What Multiplication Means · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What × Really Means

Mathematics · Multiplication & Division · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which array shows 3 × 5?

    • 3 rows of 4 dots
    • 3 rows of 5 dots
    • 3 dots plus 5 dots
    • 5 rows of 3 dots plus 1

  2. What does 7 × 3 mean?

    • 7 groups of 3 objects
    • 7 + 3 objects
    • 7 take away 3 objects
    • 3 objects shared by 7

  3. The first number in a multiplication tells how many groups. What does 3 × 4 mean?

    • 3 groups of 4
    • 4 groups of 3
    • 3 plus 4

  4. If the first number in a multiplication tells how many groups, then 5 × 3 means 5 groups with 3 in each group.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. The first number in a multiplication tells how many groups. Ted says 5 × 2 means 5 groups of 2. Is Ted right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  6. The first number in a multiplication tells how many groups. Which word problem matches 5 × 2?

    • 2 shelves with 5 books on each
    • 5 books plus 2 shelves
    • 5 shelves with 2 books on each

  7. Which story matches 7 × 5?

    • 7 cards shared by 5 children
    • 5 cards taken from 7
    • 7 packs with 5 cards in each pack
    • 7 cards plus 5 cards

  8. A box holds 9 eggs. How many eggs in 5 boxes?

    Answer: ______________

  9. The first number in a multiplication tells how many groups. Ben looks at 3 × 8 and says it means 8 groups of 3. What is his mistake?

    • He forgot to count the groups
    • He swapped the number of groups and the group size
    • He added instead of multiplying

  10. Ria drew 3 rows of 5 dots for 3 × 5, then counted 15 dots. Is her picture right?

    Circle one:   True   False

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What × Really Means W1-mt_gtTl3R5buH-s1

  1. 3 rows of 5 dots · 3 rows of 5 dots shows 3 × 5 = 15. The rest show 8, 16 and 12.
  2. 7 groups of 3 objects · 7 groups of 3 objects is what 7 × 3 means.
  3. 3 groups of 4 · The first number tells the number of groups: 3 groups, with 4 in each group.
  4. True · Yes. The first number is the number of groups; the second is how many in each group.
  5. True · Ted is right: in 5 × 2 the first number counts the groups and the second counts each group.
  6. 5 shelves with 2 books on each · 5 × 2 means 5 groups (shelves), with 2 in each group (books).
  7. 7 packs with 5 cards in each pack · 7 packs with 5 cards in each pack matches 7 × 5. The rest describe 12, sharing and 2.
  8. 45 · 5 × 9 = 45 eggs.
  9. He swapped the number of groups and the group size · In 3 × 8, the first number, 3, is the number of groups. Ben switched which number tells the groups and which tells the size.
  10. True · Ria is right: 3 rows of 5 is 15 dots, matching 3 × 5.
Worksheet · LightMySky