Question

understand fraction multiplication
multiply a whole number and a ____________

Answer 1

To multiply a whole number and a **fraction**, you can follow these steps:

1. **Write the Whole Number as a Fraction**: Any whole number can be written as a fraction by putting it over 1. For example, the whole number 3 can be written as \( \frac{3}{1} \).

2. **Multiply the Numerators**: Multiply the numerator of the fraction by the numerator of the whole number (which you wrote as a fraction).

3. **Multiply the Denominators**: Multiply the denominator of the fraction by the denominator of the whole number (which is 1).

4. **Simplify the Result**: If possible, simplify the resulting fraction.

### Example:
Let's multiply the whole number 3 by the fraction \( \frac{2}{5} \).

1. Write 3 as a fraction: \( \frac{3}{1} \)
2. Multiply the numerators: \( 3 \times 2 = 6 \)
3. Multiply the denominators: \( 1 \times 5 = 5 \)
4. The result is \( \frac{6}{5} \), which can be simplified or converted to a mixed number: \( 1 \frac{1}{5} \).

So, \( 3 \times \frac{2}{5} = \frac{6}{5} \) or \( 1 \frac{1}{5} \).