Multiplication Strategies

I am teaching multiple strategies to assist in solving multiplication problems.  We have solved problems using the strategies described below.  Please encourage your child to use these strategies when solving multiplication problems.

REPEATED ADDITION
In this strategy, students see the multiplication problem as an addition problem.  For example, 6 x 8 can be solved by adding 6 to itself 8 times, or by 8 to itself 6 times.  Your child's work may look like this: 
  6         8
  6         8
  6         8
  6         8
  6         8
  6       +8
  6        48
+6
48

This strategy works well with single-digit multiplication and some two-digit problems.  It is not going to work for all problems.

ARRAYS
Physical arrays or models are another effective means to solving multiplication problems.  This is a pictorial representation of the problem.  In the problem 6 x 8, students will draw 6 rows and place 8 objects in each row.  This is how it would look:
1 ********
2 ********
3 ********
4 ********
5 ********
6 ********
Once the student has drawn the array, all that's left to do is to count the total number of obects (48) to determine the answer.  The student could also solve the same problem using 8 rows with 6 objects in each row.

NUMBER LINE
This strategy requires students to be strong skip counters and to utilize addition strategies.  Students draw an empty number to assist in solving the problem.  Here is how this would look when solving 6 x 8:

The student made 6 jumps of 8 and ended at 48.  This could also be done with 8 jumps of 6.