The diagram illustrates the problem 4×1/2

. what happens to four when it is multiplied by a fraction less than one?
a) it gets bigger.
b) it gets smaller.
c) it stays the same.
d) there is not enough information.

Any number multiplied by a fraction less than one becomes smaller. In this case too, the digit 4 becomes smaller and it becomes 2. Another way of expressing 4Ă—1/2 is half of 4. Half of 4 is definitely 2. Take another example: 4Ă—1/4. This is same as asking how much is one fourth of 4. One fourth of 4 is 1. Again when the number is multiplied by a fraction less than one, the number becomes smaller.