Example: $\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2 \times 4}{3 \times 5} = \frac{8}{15}$

Multiplying a Whole Number by a Fraction

Turn the whole number into a fraction (put it over 1):

Example: $5 \times \frac{2}{3}$

$5 \times \frac{2}{3} = \frac{5}{1} \times \frac{2}{3} = \frac{10}{3} = 3\frac{1}{3}$

What Does It Mean?

Multiplying by a fraction means "taking a part of" something:

• $\frac{1}{2} \times 10 = 5$ → Half of 10 is 5
• $\frac{1}{4} \times 12 = 3$ → One-fourth of 12 is 3

Simplifying Before Multiplying

You can cross-cancel to make math easier:

$\frac{4}{5} \times \frac{5}{8} = \frac{4 \times \cancel{5}}{\cancel{5} \times 8} = \frac{4}{8} = \frac{1}{2}$

Simplify (divide by 6): $\frac{6}{12} = \frac{1}{2}$

Answer: $\frac{1}{2}$ cup of sugar