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
Hi Everyone,
Please read [**rule 3**](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/about/rules) (and the rest really) before participating. This is a pretty strict sub, and we know that. Rule 3 covers 4 main things that are really relevant here:
**No Joke Answers**
**No Anecdotes**
**No Off Topic comments**
**No Links Without a Written Explanation**
This only applies at **top level**, your top level comment needs to be a direct explanation to the question in the title, child comments (comments that are replies to comments) are fair game so long as you don’t break Rule 1 (Be Nice).
I do hope you guys enjoy the sub and the post otherwise!
If you have questions you can let us know here or in modmail. If you have suggestions for the sub we also have r/IdeasForELI5 as basically our suggestions box.
Happy commenting!
If you multiply one banana **by 3**, you get a lot of bananas.
1 x 3.0 = 3
If you multiply one banana **by 2**, you get a couple bananas.
1 x 2.0 = 2
If you multiply one banana **by 1**, you end up with the same banana.
1 x 1.0 = 1
So, what happens if you multiply a banana **by less than 1**? You get less than a banana. For example:
`1 x 0.5 = 0.5`
—–
Let’s repeat this idea with half of a banana.
Multiply a half-banana **by 3**.
0.5 x 3 = 1.5
Multiply a half-banana **by 2**. (You get a whole banana.)
0.5 x 2 = 1.0
Multiply a half-banana **by 1**. (You keep the half-banana.)
0.5 x 1 = 0.5
—–
What happens if you multiply a half-banana **by less than 1**?
Another approach is to draw a rectangle and divide it in 1/2 vertically. Next, on the same rectangle but horizontally, divide the rectangle into 5. There will be 10 small rectangles. Next Colour in 1/2 vertically and 3/5 horizontally. Where squares are coloured twice that’s the multiple.
Can also do similar for addition, subtraction and division. Particularly with mixed fractions, this approach is far than the process usually taught in schools.
Always start with a simple problem to remind yourself of the pattern. 1/2 of something, maybe.
1/2 of 3/32 is 3/64, but write it so the numbers are above and below the diving line, not side by side.
Just replace the multiplication sign with ‘of’.
1/2*1/2=1/2 of 1/2.
3/10*2/5=3/10 of 2/5.
It is that easy. 1/2 of 3/5. You have 3/5 of a pizza to start with and the answer is 1/2 of that amount of pizza.
[removed]
Think of “times” as “of.” 3 X 5 = 3 of 5. 4 times 8 is 4 of 8, which is 32.
Same with fractions “one-half times one third” is “one-half of one-third.” Draw a picture. The answer is “one-sixth.” It does indeed make sense.
Think of division as “how many ____ go in ____?” 3 divided by one-half is asking “How many one-halfs can fit in 3?” the answer is 6. Draw a picture. It makes sense.
A fraction is a way to say you want to multiply by one number *and* also divide by another number.
90 * (2/3) means start with 90, then multiply by 2, and then divide by 3.
Multiplying more than one fraction is to apply each fraction’s multiplication and division. (2/3) * (4/5) means 2 / 3 * 4 / 5. And because the order of multiplications and divisions is not significant, you can reorder this as 2 * 4 / 3 / 5.
Then that can be combined and simplified to (2 * 4) / (3 * 5), or 8 / 15.
Latest Answers