Cross multiplication allows you to remove denominators from fractions in an equation. Note that this technique applies only towards simplifying equations, not to simplifying expressions.
For example, if you have the equation:
then you can multiply the numerator of one fraction with the denominator of the other fraction (across the = sign) as shown:
to obtain the equation
(2 × 6) = a × 3
Example::
Simplify:
Solution:
Step 1: Cross Multiply
4 × a = 8 × 5
4a = 40
Step 2: Isolate variable a
Answer: a = 10
How to Cross Multiply Proportions?
Cross multiplying proportions is a straightforward process that is the same as cross multiplying fractions. Cross multiply by multiplying a numerator by the other side's denominator. The following video shows some examples of cross multiplication.
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