Whole number × fraction, step by step
3 × 2/5 is two fifths taken three times, which is six fifths.
The question
3 ×
- The whole number multiplies the TOP only. The bottom number says how big each piece is, and taking more pieces does not make them smaller.
- 3 × 2/5 means 2/5 taken 3 times: 2/5 + 2/5 + 2/5.
- Every piece is a fifth, and adding them does not change their size — it only counts more of them. So the bottom number stays 5.
- Count the tops: 3 × 2 = 6. That is 6/5.
- 6/5 is more than one whole, which is what happens when you take a fraction several times. Leaving it like this is the answer.
How it works.
- 01
The whole number multiplies the TOP only. The bottom number says how big each piece is, and taking more pieces does not make them smaller.
- 02
3 × 2/5 means 2/5 taken 3 times: 2/5 + 2/5 + 2/5.
- 03
Every piece is a fifth, and adding them does not change their size — it only counts more of them. So the bottom number stays 5.
- 04
Count the tops: 3 × 2 = 6. That is 6/5.
- 05
6/5 is more than one whole, which is what happens when you take a fraction several times. Leaving it like this is the answer.