How to use this sheet

  • Read "×" as "of" for fraction problems: 1/2 × 6 is half of 6.
  • Use the area model sheets to show why the denominators are multiplied.
  • Ask the child to predict whether each answer will be more or less than the whole number before working it out.

Common mistakes

  • Finding a common denominator first, as for adding. For multiplying, multiply tops and bottoms straight across.
  • Multiplying a whole number by both the top and the bottom, so 3 × 2/5 becomes 6/15. Write 3 as 3/1 first.
  • Expecting the answer to be bigger than both factors. Multiplying by a fraction less than 1 gives less.

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