Multiplication as Equal Groups

Have you ever shared sweets into equal piles? Today we learn a clever shortcut for that! Look at three baskets. Each basket has the same number of mangoes: three mangoes in every basket. Each basket is one group, and every group is equal. That is the big idea of multiplication.

To find the total, we can add the groups: three plus three plus three.

Adding the same number again and again is called repeated addition. Three plus three is six, and six plus three is nine. So there are nine mangoes.

• repeated addition

Writing long sums is slow. Mathematicians made a short way: the times sign.

Read it as: three groups of three makes nine. Now a new picture: four plates, and two biscuits on every plate. The number in each group is two, and the number of groups is four.

• 3 groups of 3 = 9

Adding the groups: two plus two plus two plus two.

Two, four, six, eight. There are eight biscuits in all.

The short way says: four groups of two is eight.

Remember the pattern: number of groups, times, how many in each group, equals the total. Let us try five bags with three oranges in each bag. Five groups of three. Count by threes: three, six, nine, twelve, fifteen.

• groups × in each = total

Careful! Many children add the two numbers, five plus three. But multiplication means equal groups, so we add three five times. Where do we see equal groups in real life? Eggs in a tray, wheels on cars, or fingers on hands!

• Not 5 + 3 = 8!

Two hands, with five fingers on each hand. How many fingers is that? Try this one! So multiplication is a quick way to add equal groups. Groups, times, in each, equals total. Well done!