4 3/8 * 6 3/5

Question

I get  a confusing solution that is not right

Answer 1

First, I would make each mixed number into an improper fraction. To do this, simply multiply the whole term by the denominator of the fraction and add it to the numerator. This becomes your new numerator.

 

4 3/8 = 4(8)+3 / 8 or 35/8

6 3/5 = 6(5)+3 / 5 or 33/5

 

Now that we have two improper fractions, we are ready to multiply. Multiplying fractions is as simple as multiplying straight across on the numerator and denominator but depending on the level of math you are in, you may want to cancel some of the terms to make the numbers smaller to work with.

 

Straight across multiplication gives you (33*35)/(8*5) which is the improper fraction 1155/40. By dividing 40 into 1155 you get a whole number of 28 with a remainder of 35.

 

28 35/40 

 

Since 5 goes into both 35 and 40, we reduce the fraction to:

 

28 7/8, which is the correct answer.