# When you multiply do you have to find a common denominator?

## When you multiply do you have to find a common denominator?

Multiplication of fractions do not require the same denominator, or the bottom number of the fraction, like addition and subtraction does. Instead, you would simply multiply the denominators and the top numerators.

## Why can you multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number to make an equivalent fraction?

If you multiply both the numerator and denominator of a fraction by the same non-zero number, the fraction remains unchanged in value. Therefore, equivalent fractions can be created by multiplying (or dividing) the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Why do we find a common denominator?

In order to add or subtract one fraction from another, they must have a common denominator, or the same denominator. That’s because it’s impossible to add two fractions that have a different number of parts.

### How do you find a common denominator?

To make the denominators the same we can: Multiply top and bottom of each fraction by the denominator of the other. We simplified the fraction 2032 to 1016 , then to 58 by dividing the top and bottom by 2 each time, and that is as simple as it can get!

### Why don’t we need a common denominator when multiplying fractions?

Multiplying fractions is a lot simpler than adding or subtracting fractions because we don’t need to find a common denominator, instead we just multiply across numerators and denominators. When multiplying fractions we simply multiply the numerators together and the denominators together.

What happens when the numerator and denominator are the same?

We also know that when you have the same numerator and denominator in a fraction, it always equals 1. The two fractions have the same value and are equivalent. Division example: You can also divide the top and bottom by the same number to create an equivalent fraction as shown above.

## When we multiply two fractions we always multiply the numerator with the denominator?

To multiply two fractions, just do the following: Multiply the two numerators (top numbers) to get the numerator of the answer; multiply the two denominators (bottom numbers) to get the denominator of the answer.

## What does common denominator mean?

Definition of common denominator 1 : a common multiple of the denominators of a number of fractions. 2 : a common trait or theme.

Why don’t we need common denominators when multiplying fractions?

Multiplying fractions is a lot simpler than adding or subtracting fractions because we don’t need to find a common denominator, instead we just multiply across numerators and denominators. Remember, any whole number can be represented as a fraction by putting it over 1. Example: Reduce when needed.

### How are a common denominator and a common multiple alike and different?

Finding a common denominator is the same as finding a common multiple. You can multiply the denominators by each other, or list out the multiples of each denominator. Multiplying by others’ unique factors gives the least common denominator.

### Why do we multiply across when multiplying fractions?

Multiplying fractions is a lot simpler than adding or subtracting fractions because we don’t need to find a common denominator, instead we just multiply across numerators and denominators. …