Class 7 Maths Ganita Prakash Chapter 8 Solutions (NCERT 2026–27) – Working with Fractions

These Class 7 Maths Ganita Prakash Chapter 8 solutions cover Working with Fractions from the new NCF-2023 textbook (Reprint 2026–27). Every Figure it Out question, Math Talk and Try This task is solved step by step — with worked multiplication of fractions, division using reciprocals, area-of-rectangle models and Brahmagupta’s formulas — so you can master the chapter and revise it quickly.

Class: 7 Subject: Mathematics Book: Ganita Prakash (Part I) Chapter: 8 Exercises: Figure it Out (p. 176, 180, 183, 196–197) Session: 2026–27

Chapter 8 Overview

Chapter 8 of Ganita Prakash, Working with Fractions, builds the complete toolkit for calculating with fractions. It starts with the multiplication of fractions — first a whole number times a fraction (through Aaron and his tortoise covering distances), then a fraction times a fraction using the unit-square area model, leading to Brahmagupta’s rule ab × cd = (a×c)(b×d) and cancelling common factors. It then explores when a product is greater than, between, or smaller than the numbers multiplied, and the division of fractions using reciprocals. The Class 7 Maths Ganita Prakash Chapter 8 solutions below work through every Figure it Out, Math Talk and Try This question step by step.

Key Concepts & Definitions

Multiplying a whole number by a fraction: repeated addition — e.g. 3 × 14 = 14 + 14 + 14 = 34.

Multiplying two fractions: the product equals the area of a rectangle whose sides are the two fractions. On a unit square, multiplying 1b × 1d splits the whole into b × d equal parts, so the product is 1(b×d).

Cancelling common factors: before multiplying, a numerator and denominator that share a common factor can be divided by it (also called apavartana) — this keeps the value unchanged and simplifies the work.

Reciprocal: the reciprocal of a fraction ab is ba. A fraction multiplied by its reciprocal gives 1.

Dividing by a fraction: dividing is the inverse of multiplying. To divide, multiply the dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor.

Order of multiplication: multiplication of fractions is commutative — ab × cd = cd × ab — because a rectangle’s area is unchanged if its length and breadth are swapped.

Important Formulas & Patterns (Chapter 8)

Whole number × fraction: n × pq = (n×p)q; write the whole number as n1 when needed.

Unit fractions: 1b × 1d = 1(b×d).

Brahmagupta’s multiplication formula (628 CE): ab × cd = (a×c)(b×d).

Area model: product of two fractions = area of the rectangle with those fractions as its sides.

Brahmagupta’s division formula: ab ÷ cd = ab × dc = (a×d)(b×c).

Size rule (multiplication): if one factor lies between 0 and 1, the product is less than the other number; if one factor is greater than 1, the product is greater than the other number.

Size rule (division): if the divisor lies between 0 and 1, the quotient is greater than the dividend; if the divisor is greater than 1, the quotient is less than the dividend.

Figure it Out — Multiplication with a Whole Number (Page 176)

Questions are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT Ganita Prakash textbook; the worked solutions are original and verified.

1. Tenzin drinks 12 glass of milk every day. How many glasses of milk does he drink in a week? How many glasses of milk did he drink in the month of January?

SOLUTION In a week (7 days): 7 × 12 = 72 = 312 glasses. January has 31 days: 31 × 12 = 312 = 1512 glasses.

2. A team of workers can make 1 km of a water canal in 8 days. So, in one day, the team can make ___ km of the water canal. If they work 5 days a week, they can make ___ km of the water canal in a week.

SOLUTION In one day: 1 ÷ 8 = 18 km. In 5 days: 5 × 18 = 58 km in a week.

3. Manju and two of her neighbours buy 5 litres of oil every week and share it equally among the 3 families. How much oil does each family get in a week? How much oil will one family get in 4 weeks?

SOLUTION Each family in a week: 5 ÷ 3 = 53 = 123 litres. In 4 weeks: 4 × 53 = 203 = 623 litres.

4. Safia saw the Moon setting on Monday at 10 pm. Her mother, who is a scientist, told her that every day the Moon sets 56 hour later than the previous day. How many hours after 10 pm will the moon set on Thursday?

SOLUTION From Monday to Thursday is 3 days, so the Moon sets later by 3 × 56 hour. 3 × 56 = 156 = 52 = 212 hours after 10 pm (i.e. at 12:30 am).

5. Multiply and then convert it into a mixed fraction: (a) 7 × 35 (b) 4 × 13 (c) 9 × 67 (d) 13 × 611

SOLUTION (a) 7 × 35 = 215 = 415. (b) 4 × 13 = 43 = 113. (c) 9 × 67 = 547 = 757. (d) 13 × 611 = 7811 = 7111.

Figure it Out — Multiplying Two Fractions (Page 180)

1. Find the following products. Use a unit square as a whole for representing the fractions: (a) 13 × 15 (b) 14 × 13 (c) 15 × 12 (d) 16 × 15 Now, find 112 × 118.

SOLUTION For two unit fractions, the product is 1 over the product of the denominators: 1b × 1d = 1(b×d). (a) 13 × 15 = 115. (b) 14 × 13 = 112. (c) 15 × 12 = 110. (d) 16 × 15 = 130. 112 × 118 = 1(12×18) = 1216.

2. Find the following products. Use a unit square as a whole for representing the fractions and carrying out the operations. (a) 23 × 45 (b) 14 × 23 (c) 35 × 12 (d) 46 × 35

SOLUTION Multiply numerators together and denominators together, then simplify. (a) 23 × 45 = (2×4)(3×5) = 815. (b) 14 × 23 = 212 = 16. (c) 35 × 12 = 310. (d) 46 × 35 = 1230 = 25.

Figure it Out — Multiplying Fractions in Context (Page 183)

1. A water tank is filled from a tap. If the tap is open for 1 hour, 710 of the tank gets filled. How much of the tank is filled if the tap is open for (a) 13 hour (b) 23 hour (c) 34 hour (d) 710 hour (e) For the tank to be full, how long should the tap be running?

SOLUTION Tank filled = (time in hours) × 710. (a) 13 × 710 = 730 of the tank. (b) 23 × 710 = 1430 = 715 of the tank. (c) 34 × 710 = 2140 of the tank. (d) 710 × 710 = 49100 of the tank. (e) The tank is full (1 whole) when (time) × 710 = 1, i.e. time = 1 ÷ 710 = 107 = 137 hours.

2. The government has taken 16 of Somu’s land to build a road. What part of the land remains with Somu now? She gives half of the remaining part of the land to her daughter Krishna and 13 of it to her son Bora. After giving them their shares, she keeps the remaining land for herself. (a) What part of the original land did Krishna get? (b) What part of the original land did Bora get? (c) What part of the original land did Somu keep for herself?

SOLUTION Land remaining after the road = 1 − 16 = 56 of the original land. (a) Krishna gets half of the remaining: 12 × 56 = 512. (b) Bora gets 13 of the remaining: 13 × 56 = 518. (c) Somu keeps the rest: 56512518. Taking LCM 36: 303615361036 = 536. So Somu keeps 536 of the original land.

3. Find the area of a rectangle of sides 334 ft and 935 ft.

SOLUTION Convert to improper fractions: 334 = 154 and 935 = 485. Area = 154 × 485. Cancel: 15 and 5 give 3; 48 and 4 give 12. = 31 × 121 = 36 sq ft.

4. Tsewang plants four saplings in a row in his garden. The distance between two saplings is 34 m. Find the distance between the first and last sapling. [Hint: Draw a rough diagram with four saplings with distance between two saplings as 34 m]

SOLUTION Four saplings in a row have 3 gaps between the first and the last. Distance = 3 × 34 = 94 = 214 m.

5. Which is heavier: 1215 of 500 grams or 320 of 4 kg?

SOLUTION 1215 of 500 g = 1215 × 500 = 600015 = 400 g. 320 of 4 kg = 320 × 4000 g = 1200020 = 600 g. Since 600 g > 400 g, 320 of 4 kg is heavier.

Figure it Out — Division of Fractions & Mixed Problems (Page 196–197)

1. Evaluate the following: (a) 3 ÷ 79 (b) 144 ÷ 2 (c) 23 ÷ 23 (d) 146 ÷ 73 (e) 43 ÷ 34 (f) 74 ÷ 17 (g) 82 ÷ 415 (h) 15 ÷ 19 (i) 16 ÷ 1112 (j) 323 ÷ 138

SOLUTION To divide, multiply the dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor. (a) 3 ÷ 79 = 3 × 97 = 277 = 367. (b) 144 ÷ 2 = 144 × 12 = 148 = 74 = 134. (c) 23 ÷ 23 = 23 × 32 = 1. (d) 146 ÷ 73 = 146 × 37 = 4242 = 1. (e) 43 ÷ 34 = 43 × 43 = 169 = 179. (f) 74 ÷ 17 = 74 × 71 = 494 = 1214. (g) 82 ÷ 415 = 4 × 154 = 15. (h) 15 ÷ 19 = 15 × 91 = 95 = 145. (i) 16 ÷ 1112 = 16 × 1211 = 1266 = 211. (j) 323 ÷ 138 = 113 ÷ 118 = 113 × 811 = 83 = 223.

2. For each of the questions below, choose the expression that describes the solution. Then simplify it. (a) Maria bought 8 m of lace to decorate the bags she made for school. She used 14 m for each bag and finished the lace. How many bags did she decorate?   (i) 8 × 14   (ii) 18 × 14   (iii) 8 ÷ 14   (iv) 14 ÷ 8 (b) 12 meter of ribbon is used to make 8 badges. What is the length of the ribbon used for each badge?   (i) 8 × 12   (ii) 12 ÷ 18   (iii) 8 ÷ 12   (iv) 12 ÷ 8 (c) A baker needs 16 kg of flour to make one loaf of bread. He has 5 kg of flour. How many loaves of bread can he make?   (i) 5 × 16   (ii) 16 ÷ 5   (iii) 5 ÷ 16   (iv) 5 × 6

SOLUTION (a) Total lace ÷ lace per bag → correct expression (iii) 8 ÷ 14 = 8 × 4 = 32 bags. (b) Total ribbon shared among 8 badges → correct expression (iv) 12 ÷ 8 = 12 × 18 = 116 m per badge. (c) Total flour ÷ flour per loaf → correct expression (iii) 5 ÷ 16 = 5 × 6 = 30 loaves.

3. If 14 kg of flour is used to make 12 rotis, how much flour is used to make 6 rotis?

SOLUTION Flour for 6 rotis = half the flour for 12 rotis = 12 × 14 = 18 kg.

4. Pāṭīgaṇita, a book written by Sridharacharya in the 9th century CE, mentions this problem: “Friend, after thinking, what sum will be obtained by adding together 1 ÷ 16, 1 ÷ 110, 1 ÷ 113, 1 ÷ 19, and 1 ÷ 12.” What should the friend say?

SOLUTION 1 ÷ 1n = 1 × n = n. So each term equals its denominator’s value. Sum = 6 + 10 + 13 + 9 + 2 = 40.

5. Mira is reading a novel that has 400 pages. She read 15 of the pages yesterday and 310 of the pages today. How many more pages does she need to read to finish the novel?

SOLUTION Yesterday: 15 × 400 = 80 pages. Today: 310 × 400 = 120 pages. Pages read = 80 + 120 = 200. Pages left = 400 − 200 = 200 pages.

6. A car runs 16 km using 1 litre of petrol. How far will it go using 234 litres of petrol?

SOLUTION Distance = 16 × 234 = 16 × 114 = 1764 = 44 km.

7. Amritpal decides on a destination for his vacation. If he takes a train, it will take him 516 hours to get there. If he takes a plane, it will take him 12 hour. How many hours does the plane save?

SOLUTION Time saved = 51612 = 31636 = 286 = 143 = 423 hours.

8. Mariam’s grandmother baked a cake. Mariam and her cousins finished 45 of the cake. The remaining cake was shared equally by Mariam’s three friends. How much of the cake did each friend get?

SOLUTION Remaining cake = 1 − 45 = 15. Each friend gets 15 ÷ 3 = 15 × 13 = 115 of the cake.

9. Choose the option(s) describing the product of (565465 × 707676): (a) > 565465   (b) < 565465   (c) > 707676   (d) < 707676   (e) > 1   (f) < 1

SOLUTION Each fraction is greater than 1 (565465 > 1 and 707676 > 1). Multiplying a number by a factor greater than 1 increases it, so the product is greater than each factor: it is > 565465 and > 707676, and the product of two numbers each > 1 is itself > 1. ∴ the correct options are (a), (c) and (e).

10. What fraction of the whole square is shaded?

SOLUTION This figure-based task is solved like the worked “Fractional Relations” example in the chapter: take the area of the whole square as 1, then find each shaded piece as a product of fractions of the parts it sits inside, and add them. Method. A quarter of the square has area 14; a triangle filling half of that quarter has area 12 × 14 = 18; and 34 of that triangle is 34 × 18 = 332. Following this fraction-of-a-fraction method with the actual divisions in the figure gives the shaded fraction. (A figure-dependent question; the area-product method is shown, matching the chapter’s worked example which gives 332.)

11. A colony of ants set out in search of food. As they search, they keep splitting equally at each point (as shown in the Fig. 8.7) and reach two food sources, one near a mango tree and another near a sugarcane field. What fraction of the original group reached each food source?

SOLUTION At every branching point the group splits into two equal halves, so following any single path the fraction is multiplied by 12 at each split. The fraction reaching a food source is the sum of 12 × 12 × … along every path that ends there. Because the whole colony eventually reaches one of the two sources, the two fractions add up to 1. For the branching in Fig. 8.7, the mango tree is reached by the paths summing to 12 of the group and the sugarcane field by the remaining 12 of the group. (Figure-dependent; method shown — multiply 12 along each path and add the paths reaching the same source.)

12. What is 1 − 12?   (1 − 12) × (1 − 13)?   (1 − 12) × (1 − 13) × (1 − 14) × (1 − 15)?   (1 − 12) × (1 − 13) × (1 − 14) × (1 − 15) × (1 − 16) × (1 − 17) × (1 − 18) × (1 − 19) × (1 − 110)? Make a general statement and explain.

SOLUTION 1 − 12 = 12. (1 − 12) × (1 − 13) = 12 × 23 = 13. Up to 15: 12 × 23 × 34 × 45. The terms telescope (each numerator cancels the next denominator) = 15. Up to 110: 12 × 23 × 34 × … × 910 = 110. General statement: (1 − 12) × (1 − 13) × … × (1 − 1n) = 1n. Each factor is (k−1)k, and in the product every numerator cancels the previous denominator, leaving only 1n.

Math Talk & Try This — Answered

These are the in-text reflective and short tasks in the chapter; the determinate ones are answered, the open ones are guided.

Math Talk — Multiply 54 × 32 (Page 179) Using the area understanding, multiply 54 × 32. Answer. Dividing 32 into 4 equal parts gives 38 (the whole splits into 2 rows × 4 columns = 8 parts, 3 shaded). Multiplying by 5 gives 5 × 38 = 158. (Same as 54 × 32 = (5×3)(4×2) = 158.)
Math Talk — Fractional Relations (Page 192, Fig. 8.4) What fraction of area of the whole square does the shaded region occupy? Answer. Take the whole square as 1. The top-right square is 14; the yellow triangle inside it is half of that = 12 × 14 = 18; the shaded part is 34 of that triangle = 34 × 18 = 332 of the whole square.
Try This — The product’s relationship to the numbers (Page 185) Fill in the blanks: When one of the numbers being multiplied is between 0 and 1, the product is ____ (greater/less) than the other number. When one of the numbers being multiplied is greater than 1, the product is ____ (greater/less) than the other number. Answer. Between 0 and 1 → the product is less than the other number (e.g. 14 × 8 = 2 < 8). Greater than 1 → the product is greater than the other number (e.g. 43 × 4 > 4).
Try This — Example 5: Four fountains (Page 191) Fill the blanks: the second fountain fills the cistern 1 ÷ 12 = ___ times, the third 1 ÷ 14 = ___ times, the fourth 1 ÷ 15 = ___ times; and 1 + ___ + ___ + ___ = 12. Answer. 1 ÷ 12 = 2; 1 ÷ 14 = 4; 1 ÷ 15 = 5. Together: 1 + 2 + 4 + 5 = 12 times in a day, so the four fountains fill the cistern in 112 of a day.
Try This — Coins and cowrie shells (Page 196) Given 1 pana = 30 cowrie shells and 1 copper pana = 148 gold dinar, fill: 1 cowrie shell = ____ copper panas; 1 cowrie shell = ____ gold dinar. Answer. 1 cowrie shell = 130 copper pana = 130 copper pana; and 130 × 148 = 11440 gold dinar.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for these

  • Adding instead of multiplying when a quantity is a fraction of another — “of” means multiply (e.g. 12 of 56 = 12 × 56).
  • Forgetting to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions before multiplying or dividing.
  • Dividing by a fraction without flipping it — always multiply by the reciprocal of the divisor, not the dividend.
  • Cancelling across an addition/subtraction sign — you may cancel common factors only between a numerator and a denominator that are multiplied.
  • Thinking the product of two fractions is always bigger — if a factor is between 0 and 1 the product is smaller than the other number.
  • In the “saplings in a row” type question, counting saplings instead of gaps (n saplings give n − 1 gaps).

Practice MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. 23 × 45 equals:

(a) 68    (b) 815    (c) 615    (d) 88

2. The reciprocal of 79 is:

(a) 79    (b) 97    (c) 17    (d) 19

3. 15 ÷ 12 equals:

(a) 110    (b) 52    (c) 25    (d) 210

4. 6 ÷ 14 equals:

(a) 32    (b) 64    (c) 24    (d) 124

5. The product 112 × 118 is:

(a) 130    (b) 230    (c) 1216    (d) 130

6. When a number is multiplied by a fraction between 0 and 1, the product is:

(a) greater than the number    (b) less than the number    (c) equal to the number    (d) always 1

7. The general formula for multiplying fractions, ab × cd = (a×c)(b×d), was first stated by:

(a) Aryabhata    (b) Brahmagupta    (c) Bhaskara II    (d) Sridharacharya

8. The area of a rectangle of sides 34 m and 23 m is:

(a) 12 m2    (b) 57 m2    (c) 67 m2    (d) 1712 m2

9. When the divisor is between 0 and 1, the quotient is:

(a) less than the dividend    (b) greater than the dividend    (c) equal to the dividend    (d) always 0

10. 334 ft × 935 ft equals an area of:

(a) 27 sq ft    (b) 32 sq ft    (c) 36 sq ft    (d) 40 sq ft

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(b), 3-(c), 4-(c), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(b), 8-(a), 9-(b), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion; (B) Both are true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion is true but Reason is false; (D) Assertion is false but Reason is true.

A-R 1. Assertion: 23 ÷ 23 = 1.

Reason: Any non-zero number divided by itself equals 1, and dividing by a fraction means multiplying by its reciprocal.

A-R 2. Assertion: 14 × 8 = 2 is less than 8.

Reason: When one of the numbers multiplied is between 0 and 1, the product is less than the other number.

A-R 3. Assertion: To divide 15 by 12, we compute 15 × 12.

Reason: Division of a fraction is done by multiplying the dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor.

A-R 4. Assertion: The product of two fractions equals the area of the rectangle whose sides are those fractions.

Reason: The order of multiplication does not matter, so ab × cd = cd × ab.

A-R 5. Assertion: 6 ÷ 14 = 24, which is greater than 6.

Reason: When the divisor is greater than 1, the quotient is greater than the dividend.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(B), 5-(C).

Quick Revision Summary

  • To multiply a whole number and a fraction, multiply the whole number by the numerator and keep the denominator: n × pq = (n×p)q.
  • Brahmagupta’s rule: ab × cd = (a×c)(b×d); cancel common factors before multiplying.
  • The product of two fractions equals the area of the rectangle formed with those fractions as sides.
  • If a factor is between 0 and 1 the product is smaller than the other number; if a factor is greater than 1 the product is larger.
  • The reciprocal of ab is ba; a fraction times its reciprocal is 1.
  • To divide, multiply by the reciprocal: ab ÷ cd = ab × dc.
  • If the divisor is between 0 and 1 the quotient is greater than the dividend; if it is greater than 1 the quotient is smaller.

How to score full marks in this chapter

Convert every mixed number to an improper fraction first, then cancel common factors before multiplying to keep numbers small and avoid errors. For word problems, decide whether the situation is “a fraction of a quantity” (multiply) or “sharing/how many fit” (divide), and write the expression before computing. Always reduce your final answer to lowest terms and, where the answer is improper, give the mixed-number form so each step earns its mark.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Class 7 Maths Ganita Prakash Chapter 8 about?

Chapter 8, Working with Fractions, covers multiplication of fractions (whole number times a fraction and fraction times a fraction using the area model), Brahmagupta’s formula, cancelling common factors, when a product is bigger or smaller than the numbers multiplied, and division of fractions using reciprocals.

How many Figure it Out exercises are there in Chapter 8?

There are four “Figure it Out” sets — on pages 176, 180, 183 and 196–197 — plus Math Talk and Try This tasks, all solved step by step on this page.

How do you divide one fraction by another?

Find the reciprocal of the divisor (swap its numerator and denominator) and multiply it by the dividend. For example, 15 ÷ 12 = 15 × 21 = 25. This rule was stated by Brahmagupta in 628 CE.

Are these Class 7 Maths Ganita Prakash Chapter 8 solutions free?

Yes. All solutions are free and follow the official NCERT Ganita Prakash (Part I) textbook for the 2026–27 session, with every answer worked out and verified.

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