What is the first step to multiply fractions?

To multiply fractions, the first action you should take is to multiply the numerators together. This step involves taking the top numbers of the fractions and calculating their product. For example, if you have the fractions ( \frac{a}{b} ) and ( \frac{c}{d} ), you would start by multiplying ( a ) and ( c ) to get the new numerator.

This method is key because the product of the numerators directly contributes to finding the final value of the resulting fraction. Once the numerators are multiplied, you will then multiply the denominators (the numbers on the bottom of the fractions), resulting in a new fraction represented as ( \frac{ac}{bd} ).

Other methods, such as adding the numerators together or finding a common denominator, are not applicable when multiplying fractions, as they pertain to adding or comparing fractions rather than multiplication. Therefore, the correct focus on multiplying the numerators reflects the foundational process of fraction multiplication.