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Actually you don't have to - but it's usually simpler that way.Here is the alternative method. Remember that a mixed number, such as 3 1/2, means that you add 3 + 1/2.

To multiply 2 by 3 1/2, you write this as 2 x (3 + 1/2), and use the distributive property, to multiply 2 x 3 + 2 x 1/2.

If you want to multiply two mixed fractions, you can multiply as follows. For example, to multiply 2 1/3 times 5 1/7, you write this as:

(2 + 1/3) x (5 + 1/7), and using the distributive property, you multiply each part on the left by each part on the right: 2 x 5 + 2 x 1/7 + 1/3 x 5 + 1/3 x 1/7

In this case, after multiplying the parts, you also need to convert the fractions to a common denominator in order to add them up. All in all, it becomes fairly complicated.

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More answers

You don't have to. It just makes it easier to find the right answer.

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8y ago
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Q: Why do you have to change mixed numbers to improper fractions to multiply?
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