Simplifying Fractions: 1 3/7 × 2/5
Multiplying Mixed Numbers
To simplify the fraction 1 3/7 × 2/5, we need to follow the rules of multiplying mixed numbers.
Step 1: Convert the Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
First, let's convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions:
- 1 3/7 = (1 × 7) + 3 / 7 = 10/7
- 2/5 = 2/5 (it's already an improper fraction)
Step 2: Multiply the Fractions
Now, we can multiply the two fractions:
(10/7) × (2/5) = (10 × 2) / (7 × 5) = 20/35
Step 3: Simplify the Fraction
To simplify the fraction 20/35, we can divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). The GCD of 20 and 35 is 5. So, we get:
20 ÷ 5 = 4 35 ÷ 5 = 7
Therefore, the simplified fraction is:
4/7
So, 1 3/7 × 2/5 in its simplest form is 4/7.
