Multiplication as repeated addition (age 6+)
Solve problems involving multiplication and division using arrays, repeated addition, mental methods, and known facts
What a learner can do afterwards
- Solve 'There are 5 bags with 2 apples in each. How many apples?' using repeated addition or known fact
- Solve 'Share 15 sweets equally among 3 children' using grouping
- Draw an array to solve a multiplication problem in context
The lesson
When you have groups that are all the same size, you do not need to count everything one by one. Instead, you can add the same number again and again, once for each group. This is called repeated addition.
Leo has 5 bags of stars. Each bag has 4 stars. He adds 4 five times: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 20. Leo has 20 stars in total.
If you already know a multiplication fact, like 2 times 5 equals 10, use it instead of adding every time. Repeated addition helps you understand multiplication, and known facts help you go fast.
Repeated addition means adding the same number once for every group, and a known fact can get you there even faster.
Watch it
Where it sits
Learn first
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8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.