Math Words and Ideas
Multiplication
Combinations
(page 1 of 3)
Here are some ways to help you learn the multiplication
combinations with products up to 50.
Learning Two Combinations at a Time
5 3 and 3 5
3
These two problems look different,
but they have the same answer.
When you know that 5 3 15,
you also know that 3 5 15.
5
3
5
35
53
Learning the ⴛ1 Combinations
Either you are thinking about one group . . .
199
1 group of 9 equals 9.
. . . or you are thinking about many groups of 1.
616
6 groups of 1 equal 6.
Learning the ⴛ2 Combinations
Multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling a number.
8 8 16
8 2 16
Learning the ⴛ0 Combinations
Many groups of 0 equal 0.
No groups of any amount equal 0.
800
070
forty-nine
49
Math Words and Ideas
Multiplication
Combinations
(page 2 of 3)
Here are more ways to help you learn multiplication
combinations.
Double a Combination You Know
To learn the ⫻4 combinations, you can double the
⫻2 combinations.
2 ⫻ 6 ⫽ 12
4 ⫻ 6 ⫽ (2 ⫻ 6) ⫹ (2 ⫻ 6) ⫽ 24
To learn the ⫻6 combinations, you can double the
⫻3 combinations.
3⫻3⫽9
6 ⫻ 3 ⫽ (3 ⫻ 3) ⫹ (3 ⫻ 3) ⫽ 18
Take Half of a Combination You Know
To learn the ⫻5 combinations, you can take half of the
⫻10 combinations.
4 ⫻ 10 ⫽ 40
50 fifty
4 ⫻ 5 ⫽ 20
Math Words and Ideas
Multiplication
Combinations
(page 3 of 3)
As you practice the multiplication combinations, make lists
of the ones you “just know” and the ones that you are
“working on” learning.
“Combinations I Know” “Combinations I’m Working On”
One way to practice a combination you’re working on is to
make a Multiplication Clue Card. Think of a combination
you already know that you can start with to help you learn
the harder one.
Here are the ways two students solved 4 8. Each student
used a different strategy.
Noemi started with 4 4. Then she doubled it.
44
44
4
4
16
16
16
32
48
84
Start with:
4x4
Noemi
Gil started with 4 5. Then he added 4 3.
45
43
4 5 20
4 3 12
32
48
84
Start with:
4x5
Gil
fifty-one
51