A whole number is a number without fractions, like 10.
A mixed number is made up of a whole number and a fraction.
Earlier, you learned how to multiply any two fractions:
1️⃣ First, multiply the numerators.
2️⃣ Then, multiply the denominators.
Finally, you can simplify your answer by dividing the numerator and denominator by a common factor, 6.
Factors are the numbers that can divide another number equally, without remainder.
Tip: factors are also called divisors.
6 is the largest factor, or divisor, of both 6 and 12. You can use it to simplify the fraction like this:
Great job reviewing.
Now, let's learn how to multiply mixed numbers and whole numbers.
The first step is to turn the mixed number into an improper fraction.
An improper fraction has a numerator greater than its denominator.
What's the mixed number in this equation?
That's right! It's 2 and 3/5.
To convert a mixed number into an improper fraction, multiply the denominator with the whole number part. Then add the numerator to that product.
Our equation now looks like this.
Now, we follow the usual steps for multiplying fractions and whole numbers.
1️⃣ Write 1 as the denominator for the whole number.
This doesn't change its value.
2️⃣ Now, we multiply the numerators.
3️⃣ Next, we multiply the denominators.
The product is 78/5. It's an improper fraction.
Let's convert it into a mixed number by dividing the numerator by the denominator.
Our final answer is 153/5.
The steps above work, but we had to do a lot of math with big numbers.
We can actually distribute the whole number factor to both parts of the mixed number like this:
Tip: You just used the distributive property of multiplication.
Then, you just have to simplify the improper fraction, which goes something like this:
Awesome!
You just learned two ways to multiply mixed numbers and whole numbers.
One way was to turn the mixed number into an improper fraction.
The other way was to distribute the whole number to both parts of the mixed number.
Use whichever way is easiest for you.
Do you remember all the steps?
Complete the practice to see.