Basic Mathematics for College Students

3.2 Multiplying Fractions 221

In the next three sections, we discuss how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
fractions. We begin with the operation of multiplication.

Multiply fractions.

To develop a rule for multiplying fractions, let’s consider a real-life application.

Suppose of the last page of a school
newspaper is devoted to campus sports
coverage. To show this, we can divide the page
into fifths, and shade 3 of them red.

Furthermore, suppose that of the sports
coverage is about women’s teams. We can
show that portion of the page by dividing the
already colored region into two halves, and
shading one of them in purple.

To find the fraction represented by the
purple shaded region, the page needs to be
divided into equal-size parts. If we extend the
dashed line downward, we see there are 10
equal-sized parts. The purple shaded parts are

3 out of 10, or of the page. Thus, of the
last page of the school newspaper is devoted to
women’s sports.

In this example, we have found that

of is Since the key word of indicates

multiplication, and the key word is

means equals, we can translate this

statement to symbols.

3

10



3

5



1

2

3

10

3

5

1

2

Women’s

teams

coverage:

–– 103 of the page

3

103 ,^10

Women’s

teams

coverage:

of^1 – of the page

2

(^3) –
5
1
2
Sports
coverage:
of the page^3 –
5
3
5
1
SECTION 3.2
Multiplying Fractions

Objectives

1 Multiply fractions.

2 Simplify answers when

multiplying fractions.

3 Evaluate exponential expressions

that have fractional bases.

4 Solve application problems by

multiplying fractions.

5 Find the area of a triangle.

c

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c

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