How to make a whole number into a fraction

How Do You Multiply a Whole Number by a Fraction?

Note:

Multiplying a whole number and a fraction can be confusing, but this tutorial helps to sort things out. Check it out!

Keywords:

• problem
• fraction
• product
• multiply
• whole number

Background Tutorials

• Converting Decimals and Fractions

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• Multiplying Fractions

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    How Do You Multiply Fractions?

    Working with fractions can be intimidating, but if you arm yourself with the right tools, you'll find that working with fractions is no harder than working with basic numbers. In this tutorial you'll see the process for multiplying 3 very simple fractions. Enjoy!

• Fractions

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    What's a Numerator and What's A Denominator?

    Numerators and denominators are the key ingredients that make fractions, so if you want to work with fractions, you have to know what numerators and denominators are. Lucky for you, this tutorial will teach you some great tricks for remembering what numerators and denominators are all about.

• Operations With Whole Numbers

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    What are Natural and Whole Numbers?

    The natural numbers are also called the counting numbers. The whole numbers are almost exactly as the natural numbers the same except for one small difference! Watch this tutorial and learn the difference between natural and whole numbers.

Further Exploration

• Multiplying Fractions

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    How Do You Multiply Fractions?

    Working with fractions can be intimidating, but if you arm yourself with the right tools, you'll find that working with fractions is no harder than working with basic numbers. In this tutorial you'll see the process for multiplying 3 very simple fractions. Enjoy!

• Solving One-Step Fraction Equations

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    How Do You Solve an Equation Where You're Multiplying Fractions?

    Solving an equation with multiple fractions in different forms isn't so bad. This tutorial shows you how to convert a mixed fraction to an improper fraction in order to solve the equation. Then, you'll see how to convert the answer back to a mixed fraction to make sense of it. Follow along with this tutorial to see how it's done!

• Solving Inequalities with Fractions

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Calculator Use

Follow these 3 steps to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions:

1. Multiply the whole number by the denominator
2. Add the answer from Step 1 to the numerator
3. Write answer from Step 2 over the denominator

A mixed number is a whole number plus a fractional part. An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator (top number) is larger than the denominator (bottom number). You can convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions without changing the value of the figure.

Example: Convert the following mixed number to an improper fraction.

\( 3\dfrac{5}{9} \)

Step 1: Multiply the denominator (the bottom number in the fraction) and the whole number

9 × 3 = 27

Step 2: Add the answer from Step 1 to the numerator (the top number in the fraction)

27 + 5 = 32

Step 3: Write answer from Step 2 over the denominator

\( \dfrac{32}{9} \)

As an alternative, once you get comfortable with the steps, you can simplify the process and do all 3 steps at once:

\( 3\dfrac{5}{9}=\dfrac{9\times3+5}{9}=\dfrac{32}{9} \)

Use the Simplifying Fractions Calculator to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers.