3rd grade · Math · Unit 2 of 14
Multiplication
Equal groups and arrays
What your child practices
Understanding multiplication as equal groups, arrays, repeated addition and skip counting. Easier sets use 2s, 5s and 10s; stretch sets go beyond 5 × 5.
Maine Learning Results learning standard: 3.OA.A.1; 3.OA.B.5; 3.OA.C.7 · multiplication as equal groups, properties of multiplication, and multiplying within 100
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Multiplying means equal groups.
- 3 × 4 means 3 groups of 4.
- An array shows the groups as rows and columns.
Example: 4 × 5 = ? That is 4 groups of 5. 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20. Answer: 20
Multiplication in Maine
In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 2 of 14 in 3rd grade Math, after Add & Subtract and before Division.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Maine Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
A frog makes 5 hops. Each hop is 2 long. Where does it land?
- 7
- 10
- 8
- 12
10
Hint: Count by 2s, once for each hop: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. That's 5 × 2 = 10.
Question 2
Priya has 2 vases with 5 flowers in each vase. How many flowers in all?
🌷2 groups of 5answer box
10
Hint: 2 groups of 5 is 2 × 5. Count by 5s 2 times: 5, 10.
Question 3
What is 5 × 4?
5 × 4 = ?
answer box
20
Hint: Turn it around: 5 × 4 = 4 × 5. Count by 5s 4 times: 5, 10, 15, 20.
Question 4
What is 5 × 3?
5 × 3 = ?
- 20
- 12
- 18
- 15
15
Hint: Turn it around: 5 × 3 = 3 × 5. Count by 5s 3 times: 5, 10, 15.
Question 5
Which multiplication matches the array?
🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎- 2 × 6
- 2 × 5
- 3 × 5
- 2 + 5
2 × 5
Hint: Count the rows (2) and how many are in each row (5). 2 rows of 5 is 2 × 5.
Question 6
3 × 5 = 15. So what is 5 × 3?
5 × 3 = ?
- 8
- 10
- 18
- 15
15
Hint: You can multiply in any order. 5 rows of 3 is the same number as 3 rows of 5: 15.