What about multiplying fractions and whole numbers?

Make the whole number a fraction, by putting it over 1.

Example: 5 is also

5

1

Then continue as before.

Example:

2

× 5

3

Make 5 into 5/1 :

2

×

5

3 1

Now just go ahead as normal.

Multiply tops and bottoms:

2

×

5

=

2 × 5

=

10

3 1 3 × 1 3

The fraction is already as simple as it can be.

Answer =

10

3

Or you can just think of the whole number as being a "top" number:

Example:

3  ×2

9

Multiply tops and bottoms:

3 ×

2 =

3 × 

2  =6

9  9 9

Simplify:

6 =

2

9 3

Think of Pizzas.

1 3/8 is 1 pizza and 3 eighths of another pizza.

First, convert the mixed fraction (1 3/8) to an an improper fraction (11/8):

Cut the whole pizza into eighths and how many eighths do you have in total?

1 lot of 8, plus the 3 eighths = 8+3 = 11 eighths.

Now multiply that by 3:

1 3/8 × 3 = 11/8 × 3/1 = 33/8

You have 33 eighths.

And, lastly, convert to a mixed fraction (only because the original fraction was in

that form):

33 eighths is 4 whole pizzas (4×8=32) and 1 eighth left over.

And this is what it looks like in one line:

1 3/8 × 3 = 11/8 × 3/1 = 33/8 = 4 1/8