Multiplication
📖 In short
Multiplication is a quick way of adding equal numbers. If you buy 6 boxes of sweets at 5 riyals each, you can add 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5, or just multiply 6 × 5 = 30 riyals. Multiplying is faster and easier!
🤩 Did you know?
- Multiplication is one of the four operations of arithmetic.
- 6 × 5 = 30.
- A dozen equals 12 things.
- Multiplication is the opposite of division.
🔎 Find out more
🌟 The times sign
We write the sign “×” between the two numbers and read 3 × 4 as three times four. The answer is 12, and it's called the product.
🔍 Equal groups
3 × 4 means three groups with four things in each. Draw three plates, put four dates on each, then count them: 12 dates.
💡 Times tables
Learning your times tables from 1 to 10 helps a lot. And there are tricks: any number times 10 just gets a zero added, any number times 1 stays the same, and any number times zero equals zero.
🎯 Order doesn't matter
In multiplication order doesn't matter: 3 × 4 = 4 × 3 = 12. Two rows of four chairs are like four rows of two chairs… try it!
📸 More pictures
🧩 Test yourself
1 What is 3 × 4?
2 What does any number times zero equal?
3 What is 7 × 10?
4 Which picture shows “Multiplication”?