Multiplication is Repeated Addition

Have you ever counted the same number again and again? Today we turn adding into multiplying! Let us start with plates. Each plate has 3 mangoes, and we have 4 plates.

Look at the first plate. It has 3 mangoes. Now two plates together. We add 3 and 3. Three plus three makes six. That is two plates.

Let us add a third plate. Six plus three makes nine.

A fourth plate! Nine plus three makes twelve mangoes in all.

Notice the number 3 was added 4 times. That is repeated addition. Mathematicians have a shortcut. Four groups of three is written with a times sign.

• 3 added 4 times

The first number tells how many groups. The second number tells how many are in each group. Here is another one. Five bags with two apples in each bag. Two, four, six, eight, ten. Adding two five times gives ten.

• groups x in each group

We write that quickly as five times two equals ten.

Watch out! Four times three means three added four times, not four added three times. Actually both give twelve, but be careful to write the groups first.

• Mistake: mixing up the groups

Real life! A hand has 5 fingers. Three hands have how many fingers?

Five plus five plus five makes fifteen fingers. So three times five is fifteen.

Now you try! Three plates, with two mangoes on each plate. How many mangoes? One more! Which multiplication matches 4 plus 4 plus 4 plus 4 plus 4? Remember: multiplication is just adding the same number again and again, written the quick way.

• Multiply = add same number again