To multiply five fractions, even if they have different denominators, follow these straightforward steps:
Understanding Fraction Multiplication
Multiplying fractions involves combining the numerators and denominators. The core idea is that you're finding a part of a part, so the result is a new fraction.
Steps for Multiplying Fractions
Here's how to multiply five fractions with different denominators, based on the provided reference:
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Multiply the Numerators:
- Identify the numerators of each fraction (the top numbers).
- Multiply all the numerators together. This result will be the new numerator of the product fraction.
-
Multiply the Denominators:
- Identify the denominators of each fraction (the bottom numbers).
- Multiply all the denominators together. This result will be the new denominator of the product fraction.
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Simplify the Product (if needed):
- After multiplying, you'll have a new fraction.
- Check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors.
- Divide both by their greatest common factor to simplify the fraction to its lowest terms.
Example
Let's take five example fractions:
- 1/2
- 2/3
- 3/4
- 1/5
- 5/6
Step 1: Multiply the Numerators
1 2 3 1 5 = 30
Step 2: Multiply the Denominators
2 3 4 5 6 = 720
This gives us the product fraction: 30/720
Step 3: Simplify the Product
Both 30 and 720 are divisible by 30.
30 / 30 = 1
720 / 30 = 24
The simplified product is 1/24
Key Takeaways
- It doesn't matter if the denominators are different.
- The process is the same for any number of fractions.
| Step | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Multiply Numerators | Multiply the top numbers of all the fractions together. | 1 2 3 1 5 = 30 |
| Multiply Denominators | Multiply the bottom numbers of all fractions together. | 2 3 4 5 6 = 720 |
| Simplify Product | Reduce the resulting fraction to its lowest terms. | 30/720 simplifies to 1/24 |
