Math · Stage 5
Multiply and divide fractions and decimals
Fractions: × straight across (top×top, bottom×bottom), then simplify; ÷ by KEEP the first, CHANGE ÷ to ×, FLIP the second. Decimals: × as whole numbers then count the decimal places; ÷ by shifting the point until the divisor is whole.
✦ Math📘 Stage 5 · S5⏱ ~13 min🧒 Ages 9–10★ Free to start
I can multiply and divide fractions and decimals.
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Kavi's Recipe Shrink 🍰
A cake needs 3/4 cup of flour, but Kavi is baking only half the recipe. "How much flour now?" hoots Kavi. "I MULTIPLY fractions — 3/4 × 1/2 = 3/8 cup! And to pour 0.8 L of juice into 0.2 L cups, I DIVIDE decimals — 0.8 ÷ 0.2 = 4 cups 🍰."
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What your child will learn
1Half of a half is a quarterMultiplying fractions means taking a fraction OF a fraction. Here is 1/2 × 1/2: start with one half, then shade half of THAT. You land on one quarter. So 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4 — multiplying by a fraction less than 1 makes the amount smaller.
2× straight across · ÷ keep–change–flipTo multiply fractions: top×top over bottom×bottom, then simplify. To divide fractions: KEEP the first, CHANGE ÷ into ×, FLIP the second upside-down, then multiply. Tap each row to hear it.
3× count the places · ÷ make the divisor wholeTo multiply decimals: ignore the dots and multiply as whole numbers, then count how many decimal places are in BOTH numbers and put the point that many places in. To divide: shift the point in BOTH numbers until the divisor is a whole number, then divide. Tap each row.
4Does it grow or shrink?
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A peek inside
Multiply the fractions: 2/3 × 3/4.
tops: 2 × 3 = 6 · bottoms: 3 × 4 = 12 → 6/12 → simplify by dividing both by 6
Try this at home: Multiply fractions: 1/2 × 1/2 = __
Ready to play and learn?
Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.
Part of Math · Stage 5 · S5 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.