Multiplying fractions can be made easier if we reduce the fractions that we are multiplying before we actually multiply them. We can, if we want, reduce after we multiply, but then we are usually dealing with larger numbers which may be more difficult to reduce. Either way we wind up with the same answer (as long as we reduce correctly).
2 3 --- * --- = 9 6 We can cross-reduce the 2 and the 6 which will change the problem to this: 1 3 --- * --- = 9 3 We can cross-reduce the 3 and the 9 which will change the problem to this: 1 1 --- * --- = 3 3
8 9 --- * --- = 45 64 We can cross-reduce the 8 and the 64 which will change the problem to this: 1 9 --- * --- = 45 8 We can cross-reduce the 9 and the 45 which will change the problem to this: 1 1 --- * --- = 5 8
Now you get to try a few for yourself.