1. What is Fraction Multiplication?

Fraction multiplication is a mathematical operation that combines two fractions to produce a new fraction. The numerator of the product is the product of the numerators, and the denominator of the product is the product of the denominators.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fraction multiplication formula:

Where:

• \( a \) — Numerator of first fraction
• \( b \) — Denominator of first fraction (cannot be zero)
• \( c \) — Numerator of second fraction
• \( d \) — Denominator of second fraction (cannot be zero)

Explanation: The calculator multiplies the numerators together and the denominators together, then simplifies the resulting fraction to its lowest terms.

3. Importance of Fraction Multiplication

Details: Fraction multiplication is fundamental in mathematics, used in scaling recipes, calculating probabilities, solving algebraic equations, and many real-world applications involving ratios and proportions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter integer values for all four fields. Denominators cannot be zero. The calculator will show both the raw product and simplified form of the resulting fraction.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if one of the denominators is zero?
A: Division by zero is undefined. The calculator requires denominators to be non-zero integers.

Q2: How does the simplification work?
A: The calculator finds the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator and denominator and divides both by this number.

Q3: Can I multiply mixed numbers?
A: First convert mixed numbers to improper fractions (e.g., 2½ becomes 5/2), then use the calculator.

Q4: What about negative fractions?
A: Negative signs can be placed in either numerator or denominator (but not both). The calculator handles negative values correctly.

Q5: How precise are the results?
A: Results are exact fractions, not decimal approximations, providing perfect precision for rational numbers.