Multiplying Fractions:Gaining mastery in multiplying fractions is a key step in learning all the fractional operations: addition, subtractions, multiplication and division. Probably starting in fourth grade math, and then receiving strong emphasis in fifth grade math and sixth grade math, your child learned the operations for fractions. That is, how to do the four arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with fractions, or with combinations of fractions, mixed numbers and whole numbers. The next step, and this topic is addressed throughout the middle school years, is Applications of Fractions. That means understanding when to use the different operations in the context of real life fractions situations. This page is focusing solely on the real-life application of multiplying fractions. If your upper elementary or middle school child really doesn't know the fraction operations of addition confidently, and doesn't know how or when to get a common denominator, you really need to work with him first on learning these basic steps. (Scroll down to the end of this article to see my TOP recommended fractions practice materials!) OK, so assuming your child knows how to do operations with fractions pretty well, let’s look at the applications. The real trick for this is recognizing the English words that point to the given operation. Another way to look at it is, recognizing the typical situations that relate to a given operation. Here's a simple problem involving multiplying fractions to see if your child knows how to compute:
2/3 x 24 
Multiplying fractions, by contrast, to addition and subtraction, does have a key identifying word: “of, ” a fraction of, means “a fraction times”. Almost every fraction multiplication problem, has the wording “a fraction of.”
Because they’re the easiest type to identify, Middle School students love fraction multiplication word problems (or at least they should!). Here are some more examples:
Here is one more example that is a little bit different:
Notice that we didn’t actually use the word “of”, though the normal wording for a multiplication problem is, “a fraction of.” On occasion, the writer of the problem can leave out the word “of”. This is pretty rare, but your child should be aware of this variety of wording. Notice that we can mentally rephrase the problem with the word “of” and it would not change the meaning.
If your child can't, unassisted, accurately compute the simple multiplying fractions problems I've given above, it's time for you to take action! Your child needs help understanding the basics of multiplying fractions. This is not necessarily a sign of a learning difficulty, but more likely that your child's teacher never spent enough time teaching and practicing multiplying fractions. (I consider that an educational crime! Your child was robbed of the chance he needs to practice a skill he will need to use over and over in middle school and high school math courses.) It takes weeks of incremental skills development and practice to gain facility with multiplying fractions!!! Did your child's teacher give him that? (You may be interested to read about some of the problems in today's American Math Education to learn more about this phenomenon.) To help your child bridge his or her knowledge gap, here are my TOP RECOMMENDED practice books for you to use with your child. I only recommend products that I have used successfully in my classrooms, and in my own home with my children. (Cost matters too. We can buy good math practice books and tools without breaking the bank!) For 4th Grade Math Practice:
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are well presented and organized. At $6.95, its a great value compared to other math workbooks!
