Multiply -4/5 by -7. Write your answer in simplest form.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to perform the multiplication of the fraction -4/5 with -7 and express the result in its simplest form.
Answer
The result is $\frac{28}{5}$.
Answer for screen readers
The result of the multiplication is $\frac{28}{5}$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify the multiplication of the fraction by the whole number
We need to multiply the fraction $-\frac{4}{5}$ by $-7$.
- Convert the whole number to a fraction
To perform the multiplication, we can consider $-7$ as a fraction. Thus, we write $-7$ as $-\frac{7}{1}$.
- Perform the multiplication of the fractions
Now, we multiply the two fractions: $$ -\frac{4}{5} \times -\frac{7}{1} = \frac{4 \times 7}{5 \times 1} $$
- Calculate the numerators and denominators
Multiplying the numbers gives: $$ \frac{28}{5} $$
- Express in simplest form
The fraction $\frac{28}{5}$ is already in its simplest form since 28 and 5 have no common factors other than 1.
The result of the multiplication is $\frac{28}{5}$.
More Information
The answer $\frac{28}{5}$ is an improper fraction, which means the numerator is larger than the denominator. It can also be expressed as a mixed number: $5 \frac{3}{5}$.
Tips
- A common mistake is forgetting that multiplying two negative numbers results in a positive number. Always remember that $(-a) \times (-b) = a \times b$.
- Confusing the process of multiplying fractions with adding fractions. Ensure you multiply the numerators and denominators separately.
