Solve the Fraction Multiplication: 3/4 × 1/2 Step-by-Step

Q: Why do I multiply straight across instead of finding a common denominator?

Multiplication is different from addition! When adding fractions, you need common denominators. But when multiplying, you simply multiply numerator × numerator and denominator × denominator.

Q: How do I know if my answer needs to be simplified?

Check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors. Since 3 and 8 don't share any factors other than 1, $ \frac{3}{8} $ is already in simplest form.

Q: What if I get confused about which numbers to multiply?

Remember the pattern: top × top, bottom × bottom. So $ \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{3 \times 1}{4 \times 2} $. Draw lines to connect the parts you're multiplying!

Q: Do I always multiply fractions the same way?

Yes! Whether you're multiplying proper fractions, improper fractions, or mixed numbers (convert to improper first), the rule stays the same: multiply straight across.

Fraction Multiplication with Basic Operations

$\frac{3}{4}\times\frac{1}{2}=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 Make sure to multiply numerator by numerator and denominator by denominator

00:06 Calculate the multiplications

00:09 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$\frac{3}{4}\times\frac{1}{2}=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem of multiplying the fractions $\frac{3}{4}$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ , follow these steps:

Step 1: Multiply the numerators.
Multiply $3$ and $1$ , which gives $3$ .
Step 2: Multiply the denominators.
Multiply $4$ and $2$ , which gives $8$ .
Step 3: Combine the results to form a new fraction.
This results in $\frac{3}{8}$ .

The fraction $\frac{3}{8}$ is already in its simplest form, so we do not need to simplify further.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $\frac{3}{8}$ .

Final Answer

$\frac{3}{8}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Multiply numerators together and denominators together separately
Technique: Calculate $3 \times 1 = 3$ and $4 \times 2 = 8$
Check: Verify $\frac{3}{8}$ cannot be simplified further ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding fractions instead of multiplying
Don't add the numerators and denominators like $\frac{3+1}{4+2} = \frac{4}{6}$ ! This gives the wrong result because multiplication follows different rules than addition. Always multiply straight across: numerators together, denominators together.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$\frac{2}{3}\times\frac{5}{7}=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I multiply straight across instead of finding a common denominator?

Multiplication is different from addition! When adding fractions, you need common denominators. But when multiplying, you simply multiply numerator × numerator and denominator × denominator.

How do I know if my answer needs to be simplified?

Check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors. Since 3 and 8 don't share any factors other than 1, $\frac{3}{8}$ is already in simplest form.

What if I get confused about which numbers to multiply?

Remember the pattern: top × top, bottom × bottom. So $\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{1}{2} = \frac{3 \times 1}{4 \times 2}$ . Draw lines to connect the parts you're multiplying!

Can I convert to decimals instead?

You could, but it's often easier to stay with fractions. Converting $\frac{3}{4} = 0.75$ and $\frac{1}{2} = 0.5$ gives 0.375, but $\frac{3}{8}$ is the exact answer.

Do I always multiply fractions the same way?

Yes! Whether you're multiplying proper fractions, improper fractions, or mixed numbers (convert to improper first), the rule stays the same: multiply straight across.

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