Using Arrays is a Great Way to Help Understand How Multiplication Works...
Sometimes, it helps us to understand a math problem better if we can see it in both pictures and numbers. Making an array is a great way to help us understand why we multiply numbers. An array is a set of objects or pictures that are organized into equal groups. These objects are put into rows and columns. Rows are horizontal, which means they go across from left to right. Columns are vertical, which means they go up and down. To learn more about how arrays help us multiply numbers, watch the helpful video below. Be sure to pay close attention and see if you can find where adding equal groups is used to solve the multiplication problem.
The video showed us how using an array could be really useful in helping us solve multiplication problems. The video also reminded us that having equal groups is very important in multiplying- in fact, that's what multiplication is!! Multiplication is a way to add together equal groups of objects!! The picture below shows an array for 3 X 6. In multiplication, the numbers being multiplied together are called factors. The answer to a multiplication problem, or total number of objects in all, is called the product. In the picture below, the factor 3 stands for the number of groups, or rows, shown in the array. The factor 6 stands for the number of objects in each of the rows, or groups, shown in the array. How many different ways can you make equal groups out of the red circles in the array below? Can you think of a few repeated addition problems that can be used to show how many objects are in the array? Remember, if you're not sure, you can always watch the video to review...
Multiplication can also be called Repeated Addition...
When we multiply two numbers together, we are simply adding a number to itself a certain number of times. For example: 4X5=20 can mean either 4 added together 5 times (4+4+4+4+4=20), or 5 added together 4 times (5+5+5+5=20). The video below shows how adding equal groups together can help us understand multiplication better. After you watch the video, think about how the total number of goldfish Jessie won can be put into other equal groups to make new multiplication and repeated addition facts.