forming equivalent fractions
1. "x is multiplying
4
-- ----> 2 (multiplicand)
8
(4x2) = 8
(8x2) = 16
4 2 8
-- x -- = --
8 2 16
Any given fraction has an infinite number of equivalent fractions. You can multiply the numerator and denominator by any whole number, no matter how large or small to obtain an equivalent fraction.
2. "/ means divide
4
-- ----> 2 (divisor)
8
(4/2) = 2
(8/2) = 4
4 2 2
-- / -- = --
8 2 4
Like multiplication, division can also be used to find a new fraction that's equivalent to your starting fraction. Simply divide the numerator and the denominator of a fraction by the same number to obtain an equivalent fraction. There is one caveat to this process--the resulting fraction must have whole numbers in both the numerator and denominator to be valid.