Formal written method of multiplication in year 4 Children in year 4 are now expected to be confident in the formal written method of multiplication, when multiplying by a single digit. We usually set out the calculations when using formal written methods but our most recent two sets rely on the child accurately setting them out themselves, with the aid of squared paper. The first concentrates on multiplying 2-digit numbers by a single digit and the second looks at multiplying 3-digit numbers by a single digit. Once the process has been understood then it is just as easy to multiply larger numbers as it is smaller, but it is important to keep to numbers that children can read and write accurately. It is very important that children set these out using the column method and that all working is shown. These are very similar in style to the types of questions found in the new Year 6 SAT arithmetic paper. Go to Formal written method of multiplication in year 4