Fractions

How to Multiply Fractions (like 2/3 x 1/4) with Free Online Tutoring in Math

How to Multiply Fractions (like 2/3 x 1/4)

Multiplying  fractions, like 2/3 x 1/4, can be very confusing.  Why is the answer SMALLER than 2/3 and 1/4?  Shouldn’t the answer be bigger if you’re multiplying?  When children are taught to illustrate a mathematical model, they can easily see why 2/3 x 1/4 gives you a smaller product.  Unless children are taught to illustrate the multiplication of the fractions, they often never fully understand what is happening with the fractions.  This leaves children with a limited understanding, which can be frustrating and confusing as they enter higher levels of mathematics.

This is the tenth article  in a series of eleven that follow a cyclical learning approach.  Each article is a complete lesson on fractions that takes children step-by-step through the process of learning fractions.  By creating mathematical models, your child will gain a deeper and more concrete understanding of multiplying fractions.  This deeper understanding will help to ensure a successful educational career. 

Articles within this series on Fractions:

  1. How to do fractions, Free Online Tutoring in Math for Understanding Fractions
  2. How to Add Fractions (like 4/7 + 3/7 )
  3. How to Subtract Fractions (like 8/9 – 4/9 )
  4. How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators (like 2/3 + 3/4 )
  5. How to Subtract Fractions with Unlike Denominators (like 2/3 – 1/4)
  6. How to Add Fractions that are Mixed Numbers (like 2 & 3/4 + 3 & 5/6 )
  7. How to Subtract Fractions that are Mixed Numbers (like 3 & 3/4 – 2 & 5/6)
  8. How to Multiply Fractions (like 2/3 x 5 )
  9. How to Divide Fractions (like 6 ÷ ¾ )
  10. How to Multiply Fractions (like 2/3 x 1/4)
  11. How to Divide Fractions (like ½ ÷ ¼)

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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge
1
Watch Me
Ferlon the High-Fiving Tortoise

Ferlon may be slow, but he is friendliest critter this side of the Mississippi River. He is constantly high-fiving all his friends as he walks through his neighborhood. Today, he walked 5/7 kilometers.

If Ferlon high-fives his friends for 3/8 of the time he is walking, what portion of the kilometers is Ferlon the High-Fiving Tortoise Exhibiting his friendly nature to all his friends?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Press PLAY and Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video below.  Then copy these strategies into your notes!

 

Does your child need a great book to read?

My son read every single one of these Magic Tree House books when he was young.  They really helped to develop his reading fluency as well as his comprehension.

I wrote this book when I was teaching in the primary grades.  It’s about a fourth grade boy who is being bullied.  He is taken to another world where he learns to face his fears. In the process, he saves the entire planet from an all-out war. I wrote this book as a testament to myself.  I have dyslexia, and for years I felt limited by my disability.  I decided to write a novel to prove that no disability could hold me back.  Return to the Elves is a fantasy book for children in fifth and sixth grades. This is my all-time favorite book for 6th grade.
It is about a young lady in the time of the Pharos.  She is quite the heroine. This book dovetails perfectly with the sixth grade standard of studying Ancient Egypt.

Could your child benefit from a little One-On-One tutoring?

The problem below is called a “Work with Me” challenge.  This challenge encourages your child to work step-by-step along side me to solve this challenge.  All of the following challenges are called “On Your Own” challenges.  However, many of my students who struggle with fractions will do five or six of the “On Your Own” challenges as a “Work with Me” challenge.  They play the video, pause it, and copy the strategies until they feel comfortable and confident.  Doing the problems as a “Work with Me” challenge is like having a personal tutor.

How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 2
Work With Me
Pinky Tuskadaro the Calculating Orangutan

Meet Pinky Tuskadaro. He’s a mathematical genius! Pinky has to use his fingers and toes, but he can add, subtract, multiply, and divide.  As a mater of fact, Pinky spends 6/7 of his waking hours calculating mathematical facts.

If Pinky is awake 3/5 of the day, how much of the day does Pinky Tuskadaro the Calculating Orangutan spend calculating mathematical problems?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Gather your materials and press PLAY.  We’ll solve this problem together, while you watch the math tutorial video below.
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I have scaffold the problems in each lesson. 

The first problem in this article is a “Watch Me” problem.  The second is a “Work with Me” problem.  All the rest are “On Your Own” problems. 

*If your child needs a bit more support, they should complete the “On Your Own” problems as a “Work with Me” problem.  I have a number of students with gaps in their learning and others with a variety of  learning disabilities.  I have had incredible success, by having those students complete 5 to 7 problems within each lesson as a “Work with Me” problem.  They play a bit of the video, then pause it  and copy, then watch a bit more, pause it and copy.  My students Play – Pause – and Copy until the entire problem is solved.  This is like having a personal tutor working through each and every problem with your child.  Every one of my students who has used this strategy has passed the Common Core Proficiency Exam.

How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 3
On Your Own
Wrong Way John

Wrong Way John is a wandering giraffe. He is constantly turning the wrong way, getting stuck in the brambles, and loosing his way. Last week he traveled 3/4 miles.

If he gets lost 3/8 of the time he is traveling, what portion of the miles is Wrong Way John lost?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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Do your children get frustrated when they make a mistake?

We all make mistakes.  As a matter of fact, making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process.  This is why at the end of each of the following “On Your Own” challenges I encourage children to fix their mistakes.  Finding and fixing your own mistake is the fastest way to learn.

 

How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 4
On Your Own
Stone Cold Kelly

Stone Cold Kelly just won the Annual Amazon Stare Down Contest.  She defeated Stella Stork, Marvin Monkey, and even last year’s champion, One-Eyed Ervin Eagle, Stone Cold Kelly won by staring straight into her opponent’s eye for minutes at a time without blinking.  Stone Cold Kelly trains 5/6 of her waking hours.

If she only blinks 1/6 of the time that she is training, what portion of her waking hours is Stone Cold Kelly blinking?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 5
On Your Own
Pelican Pete

Pelican Pete loves the game of golf.  However, he plays the game a bit differently than humans.  Pelican Pete soars overhead looking for a golfer that is about to tee-off.  When the golfer steps back to look at the roll of the land, contemplating how he plans to hit the ball, Pelican Pete swoops in and scoops up the ball.  He holds the golf ball in his mouth and flies toward the green.  As he nears the hole, Pelican Pete pushes the ball out with his tongue and watches as it rolls toward the hole.

If Pelican Pete steals a golf ball from 2/5 for the golfers he sees and makes a hole-in-one 3/5 of the time, what portion of his game-play is rewarded with a hole-in-one?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 6
On Your Own
Croaking Craig the forlorn Bullfrog

Croaking Craig is heartbroken.  His girlfriend, Frieda Frog, hopped away two weeks ago.  Every morning, as the sun rises, Croaking Craig goes back to the pond where he last saw Frieda and begins singing.  He croaks out a musical tune that he hopes will bring Frieda back to him.

Croaking Craig spends 4/7 of his day floating in the pond.  If he sings for Frieda 3/5 of the time he is in the pond, how much of the day does Croaking Craig croak?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!

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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 7
On Your Own
Lounging Leonardo

Lounging Leonardo can sleep anywhere.  He has been known to sleep under a thorn bush, on top of his little brother Lenard, and even in the crook of these branches.  Leonardo sleeps 3/4 of the day.

If he sleeps in the crook of these branches 2/3 of the time, what portion of the day does Lounging Leonardo Leppard sleep in this tree?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 8
On Your Own
Renly Raccoon

Renly Raccoon is on the hunt.  He is always looking for an unsuspecting person who leaves his lunch unattended.  People are always coming to Renly’s park, sitting on the bench for a quiet meal, and then getting distracted.  To be honest, Renly sends his wife and four children across the clearing, while he climbs a tree and waits.  His wife and kids begin to frolic and play.  The humans set down their lunch and watch.  That’s when Renly strikes.  He sprints in, grabs the lunch, and takes off into the brambles.

5/7 of the people who enter the park bring their lunch.  Renly steals food from 3/7 of those people.  What portion of the people who enter the park lose their lunch to Renly Raccoon?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 9
On Your Own
Silvia the silk weaving Spider

Silvia is a hard working spider.  She has to be, because she has over a hundred children to feed.  Her babies will hatch tomorrow.  Silvia must complete her web, and catch an insect or two,  so her babies can eat.  Silvia’s web will be 3/7 of a meter wide when it is complete.  She has built 1/2 of the web.

How wide is her web right now?

complete her race?Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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How to Multiply Fractions
Online Tutoring in Math: Challenge 10
On Your Own
Sandy Starfish

Sandy Starfish wants to be human.  She has watched humans for years, and knows just how to pose, so that people think she is one of them.  Each morning when the aquarium opens, Sandy makes her way to the glass.  She poses as if she is walking toward the center of the tank.  She loves it when the humans say, “Look!  That starfish is walking.  It looks human!”

If 5/6 of the people touring the aquarium notice Sandy Starfish, and 3/7 of those people say that she looks like a human, what portion of touring people say that Sandy Starfish looks like a human?

Watch this Free Tutoring for Math Video!

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
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Drill & Kill

Here is where we Drill until we Kill all our mistakes!

  1. The following problems can all be solved with the same strategies we used to solve the first ten problems.
  2. Solve all four problems on each page.
  3. Watch the video & correct your work.
  4. Review your work with your teacher.
  5. If you get all 4 problems correct, your parent or teacher may tell you that you’re ready to move to the next book within this series.

Good Luck!

Drill & Kill Any Mistakes
Challenge
11

Problem 1

2/3 x 5/8?

 

Problem 2

3/4 x 2/7?

 

Problem 3

4/5 x 3/6?

 

Problem 4

5/6 x 4/9?

 

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!

Drill & Kill Any Mistakes
Challenge
12

Problem 1

5/8 x 1/3?

 

Problem 2

5/7 x 2/4?

 

Problem 3

5/6 x 2/5?

Problem 4

7/9 x 4/6?

 

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!

Drill & Kill Any Mistakes
Challenge
13

Problem 1

3/5 x 3/5?

 

Problem 2

3/4 x 5/7?

 

Problem 3

5/6 x 3/7?

 

Problem 4

1/3 x 3/4?

 

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!

Drill & Kill Any Mistakes
Challenge
14

Problem 1

3/8 x 1/4?

 

Problem 2

4/9 x 1/5?

 

Problem 3

3/7 x 1/8?

 

Problem 4

4/5 x 1/2?

 

Once you complete the problem – Hit PLAY on the math tutorial video below.  Good Luck!
Need Help with Multiplication?

I have a series on Multiplication that is specifically designed for children who do not have all of their multiplication facts memorized.   The series is designed in a similar manner to this series on division, where each and every problem is linked to a video tutorial.  Here is a link to my series on Multiplication.

Need Help with Division?

I have a series on division that is specifically designed for children who do not have all of their multiplication facts memorized.   The series is designed in a similar manner to this series on multiplication, where each and every problem is linked to a video tutorial.  Here is a link to my series on Division.

Thank you for reading this article!

Want More Tutorials?

TeachersDungeon is an Educational Fantasy Game.  It is 100% FREE!  The game is set to the Common Core Educational Standards, and is web-based, so it can be played on any device.  Many of the questions are accompanied by tutorials like the ones you saw here.

One Last Thing

If you like this post and found it helpful, please leave a brief comment.   As a teacher, perhaps the greatest reward I receive is from parents, children, and fellow teachers who use my strategies of education and succeed.

My mission in life and as an educator is to make people feel empowered, self-assured, and happy about who they are in this world!  We all have gifts to bestow upon our world.  Go forth and do so, and know that you are awesome!

Have a fantastic day – Brian McCoy

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