Multiplication in Year 4 The MTC (Mathematics Tables Check) is obviously going to be a main area of concern for Year 4 teachers as the voluntary pilot will soon be in full flow and many children will be taking the check for the first time. We have a great set of resources both to help with learning tables up to twelve times twelve and with getting the best score possible in the check, given that only six seconds are allowed for each question. Go to MTC tables practice. However, multiplication in Year 4 is about a great deal more than just learning times tables, crucial though they are, and there are a number of different approaches that schools use to help children understand multiplication. Arrays and repeated addition are both popular, leading on to what is known as expanded multiplication. The ultimate aim of these steps is to use the formal written layout to multiply 2-digit and 3-digit numbers by a single digit. This is done using the ‘short multiplication approach’ and we have a great selection of pages for children to practise. Multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers, using the long multiplication method, is not introduced until Year 5. The terms multiple, factor and product are also introduced in Year 4. A multiple can be defined as a number that may be divided by another a certain number of times without a remainder. Perhaps easier to understand is this definition: a multiple is the result of multiplying a whole number by another whole number (eg the results of times tables are all multiples). It is a word that children need to use many times if they are to gain a secure understanding of the term. A factor is a number that divides exactly into another number. For example, the factors of 8 are 1, 2, 4 and 8 because 1 x 8 = 8 and 2 x 4 = 8. The term product often causes problems, especially in the KS2 Maths SATs where it is a favourite topic. ‘What is the product of 2 and 6?’ in maths has a very specific meaning and it is not what many people think. It does not mean, ‘What is 2 + 6?’ It does mean, ‘What is 2 x 6?’ Certainly a word that children need to be familiar with. Why not have a look now at our complete range of multiplication worksheets? Go to Year 4 Multiplication