Multiplication By: Jake

During the month of November we discovered a new unit in math, Multiplication and Models.  The unit began with multiplying fractions by whole numbers.

Here is an example of a multiplication problem involving fractions

3 ½  ×  4  =

In order to solve this problem we learn how to follow these steps:

1.  Find half of the whole number

½ of 4 is 2

2.  Multiply 3  ×  4 = 12

3.  Take the ½ of 4 and add it to your multiplication question

4.  12  +  2  = 14

In the multiplication unit we also learned how to multiply using two-digit and three-digit numbers.  We learned an algorithm that would help us solve problems that are multi-step. Many of the students thought that multiplying two-digit numbers would be difficult, but we found the algorithm very helpful.

The last section in the unit on multiplication was estimation.  This section made multiplying two- and three-digit numbers a snap.  We all hope that the next unit in division is as enjoyable.