Multiplying and dividing fractions
Use bars to see that multiplying by a fraction means "how many lots" or "what fraction of", and dividing by a fraction means "how many fit".
📖 Start here: read the steps of the “Lesson” in order (1, 2, 3 …) and answer each question. Then continue with “Practice”.
- UK: Year 5
- France: grade 5
- Germany: grade 6
- Iran: grade 4
- Afghanistan: grade 5
- Syria: grade 6
- Palestine: grade 5
- Ukraine: grade 6
- Russia: grade 5
Guide
Multiplying a whole number by a fraction means taking that fraction several times: 3 × 25 means three lots of 25.
12 of 23 means half of two thirds. On the grid bar, the striped columns show 23. Use + and − to split the bar into rows, then shade cells.
Dividing by a fraction asks "how many of this fraction fit into that number?" That is why the answer can be bigger than the number you started with.