Grade 3 Multiplication: What is Multiplication?
Learn what multiplication means and start with the 2s times table
What You'll Learn
- Understand that multiplication is repeated addition
- Learn the times (×) symbol
- Master the 2s times table
📖What Does Multiplication Mean?
Multiplication is a fast way to add equal groups. Instead of adding 3 + 3 + 3 + 3, we can say 4 × 3 = 12, which means "4 groups of 3."
📖The Times Symbol
The times sign (×) tells us to multiply. 5 × 2 = 10 means "five times two equals ten" or "five groups of two."
💡
Skip counting helps with multiplication! To find 4 × 2, skip count by 2s four times: 2, 4, 6, 8. The answer is 8!
📖Starting with 2s
The 2s times table is like counting by 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. You probably already know these!
Worked examples
Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.
Example 1
3 × 2 = ?
- Think of 3 groups of 2.
- 3 × 2 = 2 + 2 + 2
- Skip count by 2: 2, 4, 6
- The 3rd number is 6.
- 2s trick: Just double the number!
Answer: 6
Example 2
2 × 6 = ?
- Think of 2 groups of 6.
- 2 × 6 = 6 + 6
- Skip count by 6: 6, 12
- The 2nd number is 12.
- 2s trick: Just double the number!
Answer: 12
Example 3
8 × 2 = ?
- Think of 8 groups of 2.
- Skip count by 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16
- The 8th number is 16.
- 2s trick: Just double the number!
Answer: 16