There’s a limit to the number of multiplication facts that can be remembered so we need step-by-step methods for multiplication with larger numbers. There is more than one method including the one shown below and this other way of multiplying numbers.
Multiplication – one way
3 x 13
| o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o | We can split the 3 groups of 13 into: 3 groups of 3 and 3 groups of 10 Think of 13 in its expanded form. e.g. 3 + 10 | o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o |
| 3 groups of 13 | is the same as | 3 groups of 3 plus 3 groups of 10 |
3 x 3 plus 3 x 10
9 + 30
3 x 13 = 39
13 x 3
| 1 3 x 3 9 | 1 3 x 3 9 0 | 1 3 x 3 9 + 3 0 | 1 3 x 3 9 + 3 03 9 |
| Multiply the ones | Put a zero in the ones’ place as we’re multiplying tens | Add the products to get the answer |
13 x 3 = 39
47 x 4
| 4 7 x 42 8 | 4 7 x 42 8 0 | 4 7 x 42 8 + 1 6 0 | 4 7 x 42 8 + 1 6 01 8 8 |
| Multiply the ones | Put a zero in the ones’ place as we are multiplying tens | Add the products to get the answer | |
| 47 x 4 = 188 |
| 318 x 6 | ||||
| 3 1 8 x 64 8 | 3 1 8 x 64 8 0 | 3 1 8 x 64 8 + 6 0 | 3 1 8 x 64 8 6 0 0 0 | 3 1 8 x 64 8 6 0 + 1 8 0 01 9 0 8 |
| Multiply the ones | Put a zero in the ones place (as we are multiplying tens) and multiply the tens | Put two zeros in the ones’ and tens’ places | Multiply the hundreds and add to get the answer | |
| 318 x 6 = 1908 |
Try the worksheets below for more practice with multiplying using the method shown above.
- 2 x 1 digit – Products to 99 e.g. 23 x 2
- 2 x 1 digit – Products to 999 e.g. 93 x 4
- 2 x 1 digit – regrouping e.g. 73 x 7
- 3 x 1 digit e.g. 436 x 7
You’ll find more free multiplication worksheets here.