Math worksheet for simplifying fractions before multiplication.

Let's solve each of the fraction multiplication problems step by step, following the instruction: Simplify first, then multiply.

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1) $\frac{6}{8} \times \frac{9}{12}$

Step 1: Simplify each fraction.
- $\frac{6}{8} = \frac{3}{4}$ (divide numerator and denominator by 2)
- $\frac{9}{12} = \frac{3}{4}$ (divide by 3)

Now multiply:
$$
\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{3}{4} = \frac{9}{16}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{9}{16}$

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2) $\frac{5}{8} \times \frac{16}{25}$

Step 1: Look for simplifications before multiplying.

We can simplify crosswise:
- 8 and 16 → $8$ divides into $16$ twice → rewrite as $16 \div 8 = 2$, so $8$ becomes $1$, $16$ becomes $2$
- 5 and 25 → $5$ divides into $25$ five times → $25 \div 5 = 5$, so $5$ becomes $1$, $25$ becomes $5$

So:
$$
\frac{5}{8} \times \frac{16}{25} = \frac{1}{1} \times \frac{2}{5} = \frac{2}{5}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{2}{5}$

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3) $\frac{3}{15} \times \frac{3}{12}$

Step 1: Simplify each fraction.
- $\frac{3}{15} = \frac{1}{5}$ (divide by 3)
- $\frac{3}{12} = \frac{1}{4}$ (divide by 3)

Now multiply:
$$
\frac{1}{5} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{20}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{20}$

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4) $\frac{7}{8} \times \frac{4}{9}$

Step 1: Simplify crosswise.
- 8 and 4 → $4 \div 4 = 1$, $8 \div 4 = 2$

So:
$$
\frac{7}{8} \times \frac{4}{9} = \frac{7}{2} \times \frac{1}{9} = \frac{7}{18}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{7}{18}$

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5) $\frac{2}{8} \times \frac{3}{8}$

Step 1: Simplify fractions.
- $\frac{2}{8} = \frac{1}{4}$

Now:
$$
\frac{1}{4} \times \frac{3}{8} = \frac{3}{32}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{3}{32}$

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6) $\frac{5}{8} \times \frac{2}{10}$

Step 1: Simplify fractions.
- $\frac{2}{10} = \frac{1}{5}$

Now:
$$
\frac{5}{8} \times \frac{1}{5} = \frac{1}{8} \times \frac{1}{1} = \frac{1}{8}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{8}$

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7) $\frac{3}{8} \times \frac{8}{9}$

Step 1: Simplify crosswise.
- 8 in numerator and denominator → cancel out

So:
$$
\frac{3}{8} \times \frac{8}{9} = \frac{3}{1} \times \frac{1}{9} = \frac{3}{9} = \frac{1}{3}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{3}$

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8) $\frac{18}{21} \times \frac{7}{9}$

Step 1: Simplify fractions.
- $\frac{18}{21} = \frac{6}{7}$ (divide by 3)
- $\frac{7}{9}$ stays as is

Now:
$$
\frac{6}{7} \times \frac{7}{9}
$$

Cancel 7:
$$
\frac{6}{1} \times \frac{1}{9} = \frac{6}{9} = \frac{2}{3}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{2}{3}$

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Word Problem:

> Maria had $\frac{5}{6}$ of a bag of flour. She used $\frac{2}{3}$ of it to bake cookies. How much of the bag did she use?

Step 1: Multiply the two fractions.
$$
\frac{5}{6} \times \frac{2}{3}
$$

Simplify crosswise:
- 6 and 2 → divide both by 2 → 6 → 3, 2 → 1

So:
$$
\frac{5}{3} \times \frac{1}{3} = \frac{5}{9}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{5}{9}$ of the bag

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✔ Final Answers:

1) $\frac{9}{16}$
2) $\frac{2}{5}$
3) $\frac{1}{20}$
4) $\frac{7}{18}$
5) $\frac{3}{32}$
6) $\frac{1}{8}$
7) $\frac{1}{3}$
8) $\frac{2}{3}$

Word Problem: Maria used $\boxed{\frac{5}{9}}$ of the bag.

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Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer key!