Final answer:
To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators to find the new numerator, and multiply the denominators to find the new denominator. Simplify the result if necessary. Flipping the second fraction is for division, not multiplication.
Step-by-step explanation:
To multiply fractions, you specifically follow these steps:
- Multiply the numerators of the fractions.
- Multiply the denominators of the fractions.
Here is an example to illustrate the multiplication of fractions. If we want to multiply 1/2 by 3/4, we multiply the numerators 1 and 3 to get 3, and we multiply the denominators 2 and 4 to get 8. The result is 3/8 after multiplying directly across. Simplification is done only if there are common factors in the numerator and denominator. You do not flip the second fraction—that is a step used for division, not multiplication, of fractions.