2 × 4 = 8
- Make two equal groups of four.
- Count four and four together to get eight.
Learn
Multiplication counts equal groups.
Replace repeated addition with a quicker way to count groups of the same size.
Work it out together
5 × 3 = 15
- Make five equal groups of three.
- Add three five times; together the groups contain 15.
The groups must be equal
Multiplication is useful when each group contains the same number of objects. Two groups of four have 4 + 4 objects, so 2 × 4 = 8. If the groups have different sizes, count them separately first.
Use familiar patterns
Doubling helps with the 2 times table. For the 5 times table, count in fives. You can turn the factors around: 5 × 3 and 3 × 5 both equal 15. Do not simply add the two factors once; two groups of four make eight, not six.
Your turn
Choose the answer: 2 × 6 = ?