To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators and denominators and reduce if possible. For problem 3, do 7 x 4 = 28. This is the numerator of the answer. The denominator is 8x5 = 40. Therefore, your unreduced fraction is 28/40. Since both 28 and 40 are multiples of 4, you can reduce it to 7/10, since 28/4=7 and 40/4=10. Use this same process for problems 4 through 12.
For problem 13: 2/5= 4/10, so the black box = 1/2. This is because you multiply the numerators and the denominators. Numerators: 4 x 1 = 4. Denominators: 5 x 2 = 10 So, your result fraction is 4/10, which reduces to 2/5. Therefore, the answer is 1/2 ( above math was explanation)
14: multiply the two fractions 6/7 x 4/5 = 24/35, so the answer is 24.
15. Count the shaded squares. There are 25 shaded squares out of 40. The fraction is therefore 25/40 = 5/8. Now count the dotted squares. There are 24 shaded squares out of 40. The fraction is 24/40= 3/5. You could also just look at the far right row to get the same answer because it will reduce anyway, but that might confuse you more.
The answer to 15 is multiplying the two fractions, 5/8 x 3/5.
16. Since both fractions reduce to 1 (numerators are the same as denominators), the model would be 3 boxes by 4 boxes, all shaded and all with dots in the middle.
I say, just take a minute and remember why you are doing it. If you love it, just remember the love that you get from it. If you don't love it, then just think of it as getting experience for something else in life.
I get nervous before my cross country/track/half marathon races and all I think about is why I'm doing it in the first place.
