In this activity, we will practise multiplying two numbers.
For example, there are 1,362 horses. Each horse has 4 legs. How many legs are there altogether?
We need to multiply to find the total number of legs.
Number of legs = 1,362 × 4
Let's look at how to use a compact written method to work this product out.
First, we multiply the ones.
4 x 2 = 8
Next, we multiply the tens.
4 x 6 = 24
Note that we place the 2 underneath the hundreds column, ready for step 3.
Now we can multiply the hundreds.
4 x 3 = 12
We add on the 2 from step two and write 14 as above, with the 1 being placed below the thousands column.
Lastly, we multiply the thousands.
4 x 1 = 4
We add on the 1 from step 3 and write 5 in the thousands column.
So there are 5,448 legs altogether.
That's a lot of legs!
Now let's try some questions.