Multiplication and division are two fundamental mathematical concepts that are essential for everyday life. These operations are used in numerous aspects of life, from calculating the number of items needed for a recipe to determining the cost of items in a store. For this reason, it is critical that kids learn multiplication and division facts from an early age. In this article, we will discuss why kids need to know multiplication and division facts.
Firstly, knowing multiplication and division facts is essential for higher-level math. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus are just a few examples of mathematical fields that rely heavily on multiplication and division. Without a solid foundation in multiplication and division, students will struggle in these advanced fields. In fact, students who do not have a strong understanding of multiplication and division may not even be able to grasp the basic concepts of algebra.
Secondly, knowing multiplication and division facts helps kids solve problems more efficiently. Imagine having to calculate the cost of a dozen eggs, but not knowing how to multiply. You would have to add 12 individual egg prices, which would be time-consuming and prone to errors. However, if you know how to multiply, you can simply calculate the cost of one egg and then multiply it by 12. This method is much quicker and less error-prone.
Thirdly, knowing multiplication and division facts helps kids develop their logical thinking skills. When kids learn multiplication and division, they are learning how to manipulate numbers and solve problems logically. They learn how to break down complex problems into simpler ones, which is a valuable skill in all areas of life. In addition, learning multiplication and division requires kids to memorize facts, which helps improve their memory and concentration.
Fourthly, knowing multiplication and division facts prepares kids for the real world. Many jobs require employees to use basic math skills on a daily basis. For example, if you work in a store, you may need to calculate discounts, taxes, and change for customers. If you work in construction, you may need to calculate the length, width, and height of a building to determine the amount of material needed. Knowing multiplication and division facts prepares kids for these types of real-world situations.
Fifthly, knowing multiplication and division facts helps kids develop a sense of achievement and confidence. Learning multiplication and division can be challenging, but once kids master these skills, they feel a great sense of accomplishment. This feeling of achievement can help motivate kids to continue learning and pursuing other challenging goals.
In conclusion, knowing multiplication and division facts is essential for kids. These skills are necessary for higher-level math, problem-solving, logical thinking, real-world applications, and personal growth. Parents and teachers should encourage kids to practice multiplication and division facts regularly and provide them with the necessary resources to do so. By doing this, kids will be better equipped to face the challenges of the future and succeed in life.
13 FUN Ways to to Teach Multiplication and Division
- Use manipulatives: Hands-on materials such as blocks, counters, or beads can help students visualize and understand multiplication and division concepts.
- Practice skip counting: By counting by multiples of a number, students can begin to understand the concept of multiplication. For example, counting by 2s (2, 4, 6, 8…) or 3s (3, 6, 9, 12…) can help students understand what it means to multiply.
- Use arrays: Arrays are visual representations of multiplication problems that can help students understand the relationship between multiplication and addition. For example, an array of 3 rows and 4 columns represents 3 x 4.
- Create real-world scenarios: Word problems that involve multiplication and division can help students understand how these concepts apply to everyday situations.
- Use number lines: Number lines can help students understand the relationship between multiplication and division, and can also help with fact fluency.
- Play games: Games such as multiplication bingo or multiplication war can make learning multiplication and division more engaging and fun.
- Use technology: There are many online tools and apps that can help students practice multiplication and division, such as multiplication.com or Mathletics.
- Use songs and rhymes: Memorizing multiplication facts can be more fun and engaging when set to a tune or rhyme.
- Use visual aids: Visual aids such as posters or charts can help students see multiplication and division facts in a clear and organized way.
- Group work: Encourage students to work in small groups to solve multiplication and division problems together.
- Use manipulatives to teach division: Students can use manipulatives such as blocks or counters to understand the concept of division as “sharing” or “fair sharing.”
- Teach the relationship between multiplication and division: Emphasize to students that multiplication and division are inverse operations, meaning that they “undo” each other.
- Provide practice opportunities: Frequent practice with multiplication and division problems can help students become more confident and fluent in these skills.
Multiplication TRICKS
- The Distributive Property: If you need to multiply a number by a multi-digit number, you can use the distributive property to simplify the calculation. For example, if you need to multiply 345 by 6, you can break down the multiplication like this: (300 x 6) + (40 x 6) + (5 x 6). Then you can multiply each of the smaller numbers and add the results together.
- Doubling and Halving: If you need to multiply a number by an even number, you can use the fact that multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling the number. So, for example, if you need to multiply 24 by 8, you can double 24 four times to get 48, 96, 192, and 384. This can be easier than multiplying by 8 directly.
- Multiplying by 9: To multiply a number by 9, you can use the fact that 9 is one less than 10. So, for example, if you need to multiply 6 by 9, you can subtract 6 from 60 (which is 10 times 6) to get 54.
Division Tricks
- Long Division: Long division is a common way to divide large numbers. To use long division, you divide the divisor into the first digit(s) of the dividend, then multiply the divisor by the quotient and subtract the result from the dividend to get a new dividend. Repeat this process until you have no remainder or the remainder is less than the divisor.
- Dividing by 10, 100, 1000, etc.: To divide a number by 10, you can simply move the decimal point one place to the left. To divide by 100, you move the decimal point two places to the left, and so on.
- Dividing by Fractions: To divide by a fraction, you can multiply the dividend by the reciprocal of the fraction (i.e., flip the fraction upside down). For example, to divide 12 by 1/4, you can multiply 12 by 4/1, which gives you 48.
Best Selling Math Games
- ThinkFun Math Dice Jr. – A Dice Game that Makes Math Fun!
- Learning Resources Mathlink Cubes-100
- Multiplication Fun by Lakeshore
- Quercetti Tubo Educational Toy for Learning Multiplication and Division Tables
Ways to Practice Multiplication and Division with a Deck of Cards
Playing card games can be a fun and engaging way to practice multiplication and division skills. Here are a few game ideas:
- Multiplication War: In this game, each player draws two cards and multiplies them together. The player with the highest product wins both cards. The game continues until one player has all the cards.
- Division Memory: Shuffle the cards and place them face down in a grid pattern. Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to find a division problem and its solution. If the player finds a match, they keep the cards. The game ends when all the matches have been found, and the player with the most matches wins.
- Multiplication Go Fish: Players ask each other for specific cards to complete multiplication problems. For example, a player might ask, “Do you have a 4 and a 6 for 4 x 6?” If the other player has those cards, they give them up. If not, the player draws from the deck. The game continues until one player has collected all the cards.
- Division Slapjack: Divide the deck in half and place one half in front of each player. Players take turns flipping over the top card from their pile. If a division problem is revealed, the first player to slap their hand on the card and shout out the answer gets to keep the card. The game ends when one player has all the cards.
These games can be modified for different age groups and skill levels, and can be played individually or in groups. Have fun!
Using DICE to practice Multiplication and Division
Materials needed:
- Two dice
- Paper
- Pencil
Instructions:
- Each player takes turns rolling the two dice.
- The player then multiplies the numbers on the dice together.
- If the player gets the answer correct, they score a point. If they get it wrong, they do not score a point.
- If the player wants to make the game more challenging, they can also try dividing the numbers on the dice instead of multiplying them.
- The game can be played until a certain number of points are reached or for a certain amount of time.
Example:
- Player 1 rolls a 4 and a 5, so they multiply 4 x 5 = 20.
- If they answer correctly, they score a point. If they answer incorrectly, they do not score a point.
This game can be adjusted to fit different levels of difficulty by changing the target numbers or using three or more dice. It’s a fun way to practice math skills and can be played with friends or family members.
Why knowing multiplication and division sets you up for higher math
Multiplication and division are fundamental mathematical operations that form the basis of many more advanced mathematical concepts. Having a strong foundation in these operations can set you up for success in higher math for several reasons:
- Understanding multiplication and division is essential for working with fractions, decimals, and percentages. These concepts are used extensively in algebra, geometry, and statistics, which are all branches of higher mathematics.
- Multiplication is closely related to exponents, which are used in advanced calculus, differential equations, and other branches of math. A solid understanding of multiplication can help you understand these more complex concepts.
- Division is a fundamental operation in algebra and calculus, which are essential for studying more advanced mathematical topics such as optimization, differential equations, and complex analysis.
- Many mathematical concepts involve manipulating and simplifying expressions using multiplication and division. For example, the distributive property is used extensively in algebra and calculus, and it relies heavily on multiplication.
Overall, a strong understanding of multiplication and division can serve as a foundation for many other mathematical concepts and can help you succeed in higher math.
Looking for Printable Math Worksheets for extra practice?
We have some printables focused on multiplication or division in our TeachersPayTeachers shop.
Overall, there are many fun and inexpensive math printables available online. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or student, these resources can help you improve your math skills while having fun.
The post 13 FUN Ways to Teach Multiplication and Division appeared first on A Better Way to Homeschool.