6 Multiplication

Multiplication is an extension of addition, and provides a quick way of carrying out repeated addition. For example, you know that 3 × 2 = 6. But why is this true? Well, another way to think of 3 × 2 is as 3 lots of 2; which is the same as 2 and 2 and 2. So, 3 × 2 is telling us to add 2 to itself 3 times: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. We’ve already used one word that tells you to use multiplication, which is lots. But there are some others, as with addition, which mean the same thing. These are shown in bold below:

• 5 times 6
• On a cashpoint you might see the phrase ‘Please enter a multiple of £10’.

All the words in bold are again ‘trigger’ words telling you to multiply.

Now you’ve looked at some of the language of multiplication you’ll take a quick look at carrying it out on paper.