Look at this diagram, which shows two-fifths of a rectangle shaded.
Let's multiply two-fifths by 2.
This will give 2 lots of two-fifths.
2 | + | 2 | = | 4 |
5 | 5 | 5 |
This gives four-fifths shaded as shown.
So
2 | × | 2 | = | 4 |
5 | 5 |
Now let's multiply two-fifths by 3.
This will be 3 lots of two-fifths.
2 | + | 2 | + | 2 | = | 6 |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
This gives six-fifths shaded as shown.
So
3 | × | 2 | = | 6 | = | 1 | 1 |
5 | 5 | 5 |