When we learn about fractions, it gets drilled into our heads there is something wrong with improper fractions. But improper fractions play a role in many parts of fraction arithmetic, and when we learn how to multiply mixed fractions, we actually need that step.
If you’re wondering about how to multiply improper fractions, you’re actually in good shape because you’re problem is already in a from that’s ready to multiply!
Improper Fractions are Just Like Mixed Numbers
An improper fraction is really the same as a mixed number, just expressed in a form without the whole number part on the front. In fact, usually when you see an improper fraction your instinct will be to turn it into a mixed number. But when we are going to multiply fractions, that’s exactly the form we need to do any cross cancelling or the actual multiplication step.
In fact, the process for multiplying improper fractions is really just a simplified version of the steps for multiplying mixed numbers… You just don’t need the initial step of converting mixed numbers in to improper fractions because you’re already there! Woohoo!
An Example of Multiplying Improper Fractions
Here’s a simple example…
