Question

Why can you always multiply mixed numbers if you know how to multiply fractions???

Answer 1

If mixed numbers are

• a b/c and d e/f

You can write them as a sum of a whole and fraction and use the distributive property of multiplication:

• a b/c × d e/f =
• (a + b/c) × (d + e/f) =
• ad + a(e/f) + d(b/c) + (b/c)(e/f)