Understanding Fraction Multiplication: Calculating 3/7 * -1/9 for Beginners

To solve the expression 3/7 * (-1/9), follow these steps:

1. Identify the fractions: We have 3/7 and -1/9 (the negative sign indicates that the result will also be negative).
2. Multiply the numerators: The numerators are 3 and -1. So, we calculate:
   • 3 * -1 = -3
3. Multiply the denominators: The denominators are 7 and 9. Calculate:
   • 7 * 9 = 63
4. Combine the results: Place the product of the numerators over the product of the denominators, resulting in:
   • Result = -3/63
5. Simplify if needed: We can simplify -3/63. The greatest common divisor (GCD) of 3 and 63 is 3:
   • Divide both the numerator and the denominator by 3:
     • -3 ÷ 3 = -1
     • 63 ÷ 3 = 21
   So, we have:
• Result = -1/21

Thus, the final answer is -1/21.