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How is multiplying
rational numbers like multiplying integers?

User Alb
by
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1 Answer

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Let P and Q be two rational numbers

P = a/b

Q = c/d

where a,b,c,d are integers. Also, b and d cannot be zero.

When we multiply P and Q, we get

P*Q = (a/b)*(c/d)

P*Q = (a*c)/(b*d)

Showing that we multiply the numerators together, and the denominators are multiplied together.

The expression a*c is the result of multiplying integers a and c

The expression b*d is the result of multiplying integers b and d

Therefore, multiplying rational numbers involves multiplying integers (we just do two sets of multiplications).

After multiplying P and Q, it's often a good idea to reduce the fraction as much as possible.

User Matt Tardiff
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5.0k points