Step by step
The question
Question: work out −2/3 × 3/5.
−23 × 35
1 Cancel first
− × + = −
Minus times plus is minus.
Before we multiply, we make the numbers smaller.
3 on top and 3 at the bottom both divide by 3.
A top and a bottom divided by the same number: the answer stays the same.
3 and 3: ÷ 3 → 1 and 1
So we multiply smaller numbers.
= −21 × 15
2 Multiply tops and bottoms
To multiply fractions, we do top times top, and bottom times bottom.
= −2 × 11 × 5
2 times 1 is 2.
1 times 5 is 5.
= −25
Can we make it simpler?
No number goes into both 2 and 5, except 1.
So it stays like this.
simplest ✓
So the answer is −2/5.
Let's look back.
First: cancel first.
Last: multiply tops and bottoms.
Answer
= −25