Multiplication Year 3 & 4

Multiplication Year 3 & 4 for kids. Maths homework help for children in Key Stage 2 (KS2) Maths at Primary School. Maths homework help.

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Year 1 & 2

Year 3 & 4

Year 5 & 6

Times Tables

In Year 3 you should learn the 11 times tables, 9 times tables, 3 times tables, 4 times tables.

Using a multiplication square

A multiplication square is a grid that helps you quickly look up answers to times table sums.

To find the answer to 6 x 4

Find 6 along the top row.
Find 4 down the left column.
Follow the line down and across until the two numbers meet.
The square where they meet gives you the answer: 24

Multiplication square
Print out the multiplication square.

Multiplication and division facts

Multiplication is the reverse of division. This means you can rearrange the numbers from a multiplication sum to make a division sum.

Using facts you already know

You can use times table facts you already know to help you work out harder sums.

If you know that 4 x 5 = 20

Then 4 x 6 is 4 more = 24

If you know that 2 x 4 = 8

Then 4 x 4 is double 8 = 16

If you know that 10 x 3 = 30

Then 9 x 3 is 3 less = 27

Multiplying by tens, hundreds and thousands

Multiplying by big numbers can seem scary, but it's very easy once you work out how to deal with all those zeros.

How to calculate sums with one zero.
Work out: 5 x 10

How to calculate sums with two zeros.
Work out: 20 x 30

How to calculate sums with even more zeros.
Work out: 60 x 1000

Multiplying by the grid method

When numbers get too big to count on your fingers, you can split them up. The grid method breaks larger numbers into tens and units so that they are easier to multiply.

Work out: 42 x 5

1) Break up the 42 and add it to the grid. Put the 5 on the side.

2) Work out the sums 40 x 5 and 2 x 5. Then add the answers together.

Multiplying using a grid with 2 digits
Work out the multiplication sums by using a grid and 2 digit numbers.

If you have even bigger numbers split them in the same way to out the answer.
Work out: 52 x 13

1) Break up the 52 and add it to the top. Break up the 13 and add it to the side.

2) Work out the sums 50 x 10, 2 x 10, 50 x 3, 2 x 3.

3) Add up the rows.

4) Add up the two totals to get the answer to 52 x 13.

Multiplying using a grid with 2x2 digits
Work out the multiplication sums by using a grid and 2 digit numbers.

Column multiplication

Once you feel happy with the grid method, you can try column multiplication. This is a fast, written method where you stack your numbers neatly in columns.

Work out: 143 x 3

Multiplying three numbers together

Did you know you can multiply three numbers at once? Multiply the first two numbers together, then multiply that answer by the third number.

Finding factor pairs

Factors are the building-block numbers that multiply together to make a target number. Finding factor pairs is like being a maths detective!

What pairs of numbers multiply together to make 12?

1 x 12 = 12
2 x 6 = 12
3 x 4 = 12

So the factor pairs of 12 are (1, 12), (2, 6), and (3, 4)

Using multiplication boxes

Multiplication boxes (or bar models) are great for word problems. Draw a long bar split into equal parts to help you see what calculation you need to do.

A pack has 6 pencils. How many pencils are in 4 packs?