Week 2 of 8
Week 2
5th Grade → 6th Grade · Fractions multiply and Theme
Math
Multiplying Fractions
Multiplying two fractions: multiply the tops, multiply the bottoms, then simplify. Fifth grade.
The mistake to watch for. Looking for a common denominator first. That is only needed for adding and subtracting; for multiplying the bottoms can differ.
How to help. Picture a fraction of a fraction: half of a third is a sixth, so 1/2 × 1/3 = 1/6.
A worked example
2/3 × 3/4 = ___. Multiply the tops: 2 × 3 = 6. Multiply the bottoms: 3 × 4 = 12. 6/12 simplifies to 1/2.
Words for this week
- fraction
- A number that names equal parts of a whole, like 3/4.
- numerator
- The top number in a fraction. It tells how many parts we mean.
- denominator
- The bottom number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts the whole is cut into.
- product
- The answer you get when you multiply.
- simplify
- To write a fraction with the smallest numbers that still name the same amount, like 6/12 = 1/2.
Read this week
Conducting
A short arts article from our Learn library, chosen for this reading level. Read it together, then ask your child to tell you one new thing they learned.