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Q: Do you need a common denominator for dividing and multiplying fractions?
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Do you need a common denominator to divide fractions?

No. Dividing fractions is achieved by inverting the divisor and multiplying the resulting fractions. To multiply fractions the numerators are multiplied together to form the new numerator and the denominators are multiplied together to form the new denominator.


When multiplying fractions when they have same common denominator do you multiply the denominators?

YES.


When dividing fractions do need a common denominator?

No. Common denominators are needed for addition and subtraction, not multiplication or division.


How do you put different fractions in increasing order?

Option 1: Find a common denominator for the two fractions. It need not be the least common denominator; for example, for two fractions, if you just multiply the two denominators, you get a common denominator. Convert all the fractions to the common denominator. Then you can compare. Option 2: Convert each fraction to decimal, by dividing the numerator by the denominator. Then you can compare the decimals.


Adding and subtracting unlike denominators?

Fractions can only be added or subtracted if the denominators are the same. If the denominators are different, then the fractions need to be made into equivalent fractions with the same denominator. The new denominator can be found simply by multiplying the denominators together, but this can lead to some large fractions with which to work. A better new denominator is the lowest common multiple of (all the) denominators. (Once the new denominator is found, the fractions' new numerators are found by multiplying their current numerator by the new denominator divided by their current denominator to make their equivalent fractions with the new denominator.) Once all the fractions are converted into equivalent fractions with the new denominator then the fractions can be added or subtracted, with the result being simplified (if possible).