Calculations Involving Rational Numbers: Learn It 3
Multiplying Rational Numbers
Just as you add, subtract, multiply, and divide when working with whole numbers, you also use these operations when working with rational numbers. Multiplying rational numbers is less complicated than adding or subtracting rational numbers, as there is no need to find common denominators.
multiplying rational numbers
To multiply rational numbers, multiply the numerators, then multiply the denominators, and write the numerator product divided by the denominator product. As always, rational numbers should be reduced to lowest terms.
Symbolically, we write this as: If [latex]b[/latex] and [latex]d[/latex] are non-zero integers, then
There may be instances where you must multiply more than two rational numbers. This may seem more complicated but in reality you are doing the exact same thing as you did before.
multiplying more than two rational numbers
[latex]\frac{a}{b} \times \frac{c}{d} \times \frac{e}{f}=\frac{a \times c \times e}{b \times d \times f}[/latex]