Step by step
The question
Question: work out −2/3 × (−3/4).
−23 × (−34)
1 Cancel first
− × − = +
Minus times minus is plus.
Before we multiply, we make the numbers smaller.
2 on top and 4 at the bottom both divide by 2.
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.
2 and 4: ÷ 2 → 1 and 2
3 and 3: ÷ 3 → 1 and 1
So we multiply smaller numbers.
= −11 × −12
2 Multiply tops and bottoms
To multiply fractions, we do top times top, and bottom times bottom.
= 1 × 11 × 2
1 times 1 is 1.
1 times 2 is 2.
= 12
Can we make it simpler?
No number goes into both 1 and 2, except 1.
So it stays like this.
simplest ✓
So the answer is 1/2.
Let's look back.
First: cancel first.
Last: multiply tops and bottoms.
Answer
= 12