Eli5 What really is a fraction TIMES a fraction?! It makes NO sense.

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I am reteaching myself math, but something is bugging me soooo bad and I can’t find the answer. What is a real life example of multiplying a fraction by a fraction? I was wondering why .05 to the 5th exponent would get smaller not bigger. This is driving me bonkers.

Sure 1/2 makes sense, but how about 1/2 times 3/5 in real life?!?

Edit: OMFG. Math is cool and makes sense. Finally, I’m 28. Thank you all!!!!

Edit: I was given an AP Scholar award, but it was not for math.

* * * The best explanation goes to the person who explained “times” and “of” were synonomous!!!! * * *

NOW EXPLAIN THIS: How am I in the 99.9th percentile for arithmetic, but suck at math?! Do I have potential? Am I still gifted in “math” or are math and arithmetic too separate things. A professor told me they are different parts of the brain.

In: Mathematics

38 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Replace the word “times” with “of”

1/2 of 3/5. Half of 3/5. Obviously it’s going to be smaller than 3/5

0.05 of 0.05, that’s 5 percent of 0.05. You know 5 percent is a relatively small chunk of the original.

The problem may be you were taught only the abstract math rules, but it wasn’t well tied into concrete example that would build the numerical understanding.

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