In previous lessons, students represented the decomposition of a rectangle with diagrams, expressions, and equations and found the product of a whole number and a fraction.

In this optional lesson, students will practice multiplying fractions by using their understanding of the properties of operations. This time, they will not be provided with a diagram to represent each product. Students will also apply what they have learned about multiplying fractions to reason about the proximity of fractional areas to whole number areas.

What evidence did you see in today’s lesson that your students are extending their understanding of multiplication?