Chapter 2

Multiplying and
Dividing
Fractions

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All rights reserved.

2.6 Applications of Multiplication

Objectives

1. Solve fraction application problems using

multiplication.

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Sec 2.6 - 3

Many application problems are solved by

multiplying fractions. Use the following indicator
words for multiplication.

product
double
triple
times
of (when of follows a fraction)
twice
twice as much
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Sec 2.6 - 4

Parallel
Example 1

Applying Indicator Words

1
of
7

Megan Paten has

her income deposited
into a vacation fund. In one pay period she
earns $966. How much money does she
deposit in her vacation fund per pay period?
Step 1 Read the problem. The problem asks us
to find the amount of money she deposits
into her vacation fund.
Step 2 Work out a plan.
The indicator word is of;
1
Paten deposits 7 of her income. When it
follows a fraction, the word of indicates
multiplication, so find the amount deposited
1
by multiplying 7 and $966.
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Sec 2.6 - 5

Parallel
Example 1
continued

Applying Indicator Words

1
7

Megan Paten has of her income deposited into a

vacation fund. In one pay period she earns $966.
How much money does she deposit in her vacation
fund per pay period?

Step 3 Estimate a reasonable answer. Round the

income of $966 to $1000. Then divide 1000
1
by ten to find 10 of the income.
Our estimate is $1000 10 = $100.
Step 4 Solve the problem.
138

1 966 138
amount =

138
1
1
1 7
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Sec 2.6 - 6

Parallel
Example 1
continued

Applying Indicator Words

1
7

Megan Paten has of her income deposited into a

vacation fund. In one pay period she earns $966.
How much money does she deposit in her vacation
fund per pay period?

Step 5 State the answer. Paten deposits $138 in

her vacation fund per pay period.
Step 6 Check. The exact answer $138, is close to
the estimate of $100.

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sec 2.6 - 7

Parallel
Example 2

Solving a Fraction Application Problem

2
shelter, are
3

Of the 48 kittens in the

males.
How many male kittens are there?
Step 1 Read the problem. The problem asks to
find the number of male kittens in the
shelter.
Step 2 Work out a plan. Reword the problem to
read
2
3

of the kittens are male.

Indicator word for multiplication when it

follows a fraction.
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Sec 2.6 - 8

Parallel
Example 2
continued

Solving a Fraction Application Problem

2
3

Of the 48 kittens in the shelter, are males.

How many male kittens are there?
Step 3 Estimate a reasonable answer. Round the
1
number of kittens
from 48 to 50.
Then 2 of
1
2
50 is 25. Since 3 is more than 2 , our
estimate is that more than 25 kittens are
males.
Step 4 Solve the problem.

16

2 48
= 32

1
1 3

male kittens =

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Sec 2.6 - 9

Parallel
Example 2
continued

Solving a Fraction Application Problem

2
3

Of the 48 kittens in the shelter, are males.

How many male kittens are there?
Step 5 State the answer. There are 32 male kittens
in the shelter.
Step 6 Check. The exact answer 32, fits our
estimate of more than 25.

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sec 2.6 - 10

Parallel
Example 3

Finding a Fraction of a Fraction

1
2

In Annes sport card collection, of all of her

cards are baseball cards. Of those baseball
1
cards, 3 of them are of the New York Yankees.
What fraction of the total cards are of the New
York Yankees?
Step 1 Read the problem. The problem asks for
the fraction of the baseball cards that are
the New York Yankees.
Step 2

Work out a plan. Reword the problem to

1
1
read
of .
Indicator word for
3

multiplication when it
follows a fraction

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Sec 2.6 - 11

Parallel
Finding
a
Fraction
of
a
Fraction
Example 3
continued
In Annes sport card collection, 1/2 of all of her cards are
baseball cards. Of those baseball cards, 1/3 of them are
of the New York Yankees. What fraction of the total cards
are of the New York Yankees?

Step 3 Estimate a reasonable answer. If the cards

are divided into 2 equal piles and each of
these pile was divided into 3 equal parts,
we would have 2 3 = 6 equal parts. Our
estimate is 1 .
6

Step 4 Solve the problem. 1 1 1

.

2 3

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Sec 2.6 - 12

Parallel
Example 3
continued

Finding a Fraction of a Fraction

In Annes sport card collection, of all of her

cards are baseball cards. Of those baseball
1
cards, 3 of them are of the New York Yankees.
What fraction of the total cards are of the New
York Yankees?
1
2

Step 5 State the answer. The New York Yankees

1
cards make up of Annes collection.
6

Step 6 Check. The exact answer 1 , matches our

6
estimate.
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Sec 2.6 - 13

Parallel
Example 4

Using Fractions with a Circle Graph

The circle graph, or pie chart, shows where

children 8 to 17 years of age make food
purchases when away from home. If 2500
children were in the survey, find the number of
children who buy food from the vending
machine.

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Sec 2.6 - 14

Parallel
Example 4
continued

Using Fractions with a Circle Graph

Step 1

Read the problem. The problem asks for

the number of children who buy food from
the vending machine.

Step 2

Work out a plan. Reword the problem to

read

1
of 2500 children buy food from the vending machine.
5
Indicator word for multiplication when it
follows a fraction

Step 3

Estimate a reasonable answer. of 2500

people is 625 people. 1/5 is less than , so
our estimate is less than 625 people.
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Sec 2.6 - 15

Parallel
Example 4
continued

Using Fractions with a Circle Graph

500

Step 4 Solve the problem.

1

1 2500

5
1

500

Step 5 State the answer. 500 children buy food

from the vending machine.
Step 6 Check. The exact answer, 500 children, fits
our estimate of less than 625 children.

Copyright 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sec 2.6 - 16