Multiplying fractions by multiplying numerators together and denominators together, then simplifying.
Where your child meets this in real life: Finding a fraction of a fraction (⅔ of ¾ of a recipe)
SEAGReady breaks multiply fractions into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Multiply two unit fractions by multiplying the denominators, understanding it as finding a fraction of a fraction (e.g., ½ of ⅓ = 1/6)
Multiply two proper fractions by multiplying the numerators and the denominators (e.g., 2/3 × 3/4 = 6/12)
Multiply two fractions and give the answer in its simplest form by dividing by the highest common factor (e.g., 3/4 × 2/5 = 6/20 = 3/10)
Try three free questions from our multiply fractions course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Lily has 1/2 of a chocolate bar. She gives 1/4 of that piece to her brother. What fraction of the whole chocolate bar did her brother get?
A farmer has 3/5 of a field planted with wheat. Slugs damage 2/3 of the wheat crop. What fraction of the whole field was damaged?
A baker uses 3/4 of her sugar to make cakes. She uses 2/3 of the cake sugar for chocolate cakes, and 3/5 of the chocolate cake sugar for a wedding cake. What fraction of all her sugar went into the wedding cake? Simplify fully.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Rosie is making cupcakes. She uses ½ of a recipe, but only makes ⅓ of that smaller batch.
What fraction of the full recipe does she make?
½ × ⅓
Shade the 1/2 of the full recipe that Rosie plans to use
Step 1 of 3
Rosie is making cupcakes. She uses ½ of a recipe, but only makes ⅓ of that smaller batch.
What fraction of the full recipe does she make?
Rosie makes ⅙ of the full recipe.
The key insight: When you multiply fractions, the pieces get smaller - ⅓ of ½ is smaller than either fraction!
Common mix-up: ½ × ⅓ = ⅔ (adding numerators and denominators). We multiply, not add. Multiplying fractions means finding a fraction OF a fraction.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in multiply fractions, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with multiply fractions? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed