Rational Numbers: Multiplication

Objectives:

• Students will review the rules for multiplying positive and negative numbers.

• Students will review how to multiply fractions and mixed numbers.

• Students will review how to multiply decimals.

• Students will learn how to combine all of these skills together.

• Students will learn how to multiply several terms together.

• Students will practice all of these skills in their independent work.

Suggested Grades:

Sixth Grade - Seventh Grade - Eighth Grade - Ninth Grade - including special education students

Lesson Procedure:

Print the classroom lesson plan and worksheet questions (see below).

Lesson Excerpt:

II. Multiplying Rational Numbers

- "Now, let's start with an example."
- On Board: (1/4)(-2/3) = ____
- Use student volunteers throughout this section. It will help the students to review previously learned information and also assist with attention.
- "First, let's start with how do we multiply a fraction? Who can tell me that?"
- Student answer- you multiply across. Numerator x numerator and denominator x denominator.
- "Good, and the second part of this problem has to do with the negative. A positive times a negative is a negative. Now, we can go ahead and solve this problem. Who can solve this one for me?"
- Student answer is -2/12, which reduces to -1/6.
- "Good. We applied the rules for multiplying fractions with our rules for multiplying negative numbers, and we were able to solve the problem. Now let's look at an example that has mixed numbers. Remember that when there are parentheses next to each other that the operation is multiplication."

Continued...