Multiplying Fractions by Whole Numbers: Step-by-Step Guide

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This instructional math video provides a step-by-step guide on how to multiply fractions by whole numbers. The narrator uses four distinct examples to demonstrate two primary methods: simplifying before multiplying (cross-canceling) and multiplying straight across followed by converting improper fractions into mixed numbers. The video utilizes a digital whiteboard format where calculations are written out in real-time with color-coding to highlight specific steps like canceling out common factors. The content covers key arithmetic concepts including writing whole numbers as fractions over one, factoring numbers to simplify calculations, and multiple strategies for converting improper fractions to mixed numbers using decomposition and division. The pacing is deliberate, allowing learners to follow the procedural logic of each operation. The first two examples focus on scenarios where numbers simplify cleanly to whole numbers, while the last two examples address scenarios resulting in non-whole numbers that require conversion. This resource is highly valuable for upper elementary and middle school classrooms as both an introduction to fraction multiplication and a review of mixed number conversions. Teachers can use it to visually demonstrate why 'cross-canceling' works by showing the factors explicitly, rather than just teaching it as a rote trick. The clear audio and high-contrast visuals make it accessible for students who need repeated exposure to the algorithm.