Unit 6 — Beginning Multiplication

Welcome back!

So far you have learned how to add and subtract larger numbers.

Now you will discover a faster way to add equal groups.

This new idea is called multiplication.

Multiplication helps us solve many problems quickly.

Equal Groups

Imagine you have:

3 baskets

Each basket contains 4 apples.

Instead of adding:

4 + 4 + 4

we can multiply:

3 × 4 = 12

This means:

3 groups of 4 equals 12.

Multiplication as Repeated Addition

Multiplication is another way to write repeated addition.

Examples:

2 × 5

means:

5 + 5 = 10

4 × 3

means:

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12

Repeated addition and multiplication describe the same idea.

Rows and Arrays

Arrays help us see multiplication.

Example:

🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

There are:

3 rows

4 apples in each row

So:

3 × 4 = 12

Arrays make multiplication easy to picture.

Multiplication Facts

Learning multiplication facts helps solve problems faster.

Examples:

1 × 6 = 6

2 × 6 = 12

3 × 6 = 18

4 × 6 = 24

The more you practice, the easier they become.

Solving Word Problems

Example:

Five birds are sitting on a fence.

Each bird has 2 wings.

How many wings are there?

Think:

5 groups of 2

5 × 2 = 10

Answer:

10 wings.

Activity

Draw your own array.

Choose any numbers from 2 through 5.

Example:

4 rows

3 objects in each row

Write the multiplication sentence below your picture.

Practice

Solve these problems.

2 × 7 = ______

3 × 5 = ______

4 × 2 = ______

5 × 3 = ______

Draw an array for:

3 × 6

Review

Today you learned:

• multiplication means equal groups
• multiplication is repeated addition
• arrays help us see multiplication
• multiplication helps solve problems more quickly
• practice builds confidence

Every multiplication problem is simply a pattern of equal groups.

Looking Ahead

Next we will discover division.

Division helps us share objects fairly and understand how multiplication and division work together.