✖ Multiplication Hero 🦸

Multiplication is the foundation of almost everything in maths — from areas and volumes to percentages and algebra. A true Multiplication Hero doesn't just memorise tables; they use clever mental strategies to tackle any multiplication quickly and confidently!

⚡ Strategy 1: Halving & Doubling
24 × 5 → 12 × 10 = 120
🔧 Strategy 2: Using Factors
18 × 6 → 18 × 2 × 3 = 108
🎯 Strategy 3: Round & Adjust
25 × 19 → 25 × 20 − 25 = 475

🦸 The Golden Rules:

📐 The Grid Method (2-digit × 2-digit):

Split each number into tens and ones, fill in the grid, then add all four products together.

Example: 23 × 14

× 20 3
10 200 30
4 80 12

200 + 30 + 80 + 12 = 322

📝 Worked Examples

Study each strategy carefully — then try the drag exercises!

Example 1: Multiplying by 10, 100 and 1000

Questions: (a) 63 × 10   (b) 47 × 100   (c) 8 × 1000

Rule: Each × 10 shifts all digits one place to the LEFT.
(a) 63 × 10 = 630 — digits shift one place left.
(b) 47 × 100 = 4,700 — digits shift two places left.
(c) 8 × 1000 = 8,000 — digits shift three places left.

Remember: We say digits move left, not "add zeros" — it's about place value!

Example 2: Halving & Doubling

Question: Calculate 36 × 5.

Step 1: 5 is hard to multiply by. But 10 is easy!
Step 2: Halve 36 → 18. Double 5 → 10.
Step 3: 18 × 10 = 180

Answer: 36 × 5 = 180  ✔ Check: 180 ÷ 5 = 36 ✓

Example 3: Grid Method (2-digit × 2-digit)

Question: Calculate 34 × 27.

×304
2060080
721028
Total: 600 + 80 + 210 + 28 = 918

Answer: 34 × 27 = 918

Example 4: Round & Adjust

Question: Calculate 45 × 19.

Step 1: Round 19 up to 20 (easier to multiply by).
Step 2: 45 × 20 = 900
Step 3: We went 1 too many, so subtract 1 group of 45: 900 − 45 = 855

Answer: 45 × 19 = 855  ✔ Estimate was 900, answer is close ✓

🔬 Grid Method Builder

Enter two numbers and watch the grid method build the answer step by step!

×

🧩 Drag 1: Multiply by 10, 100 and 1000

Digits shift LEFT when multiplying by powers of 10. Drag the correct answer!

470
4700
47000
47 × 100 =

🧩 Drag 2: Halving & Doubling

Use the halving trick: halve 24, double 5 → 12 × 10. Drag the answer!

100
120
240
24 × 5 =

(Hint: 24 × 5 → halve 24 = 12, double 5 = 10 → 12 × 10 = ?)

🧩 Drag 3: Using Factors

Break 6 into factors: × 6 = × 2 then × 3. Work out 36 × 6 this way!

196
216
236
36 × 6 =

(Hint: 36 × 2 = 72  |  72 × 3 = ?)

🧩 Drag 4: Grid Method (2-digit × 1-digit)

Use the grid method: split 23 into 20 + 3, multiply each part by 7, add together.

151
161
171
23 × 7 =

(Hint: 20 × 7 = 140  |  3 × 7 = 21  |  140 + 21 = ?)

🧩 Drag 5: Grid Method (2-digit × 2-digit)

Use the grid method with 4 cells: 23 × 12. Split each number into tens and ones!

256
276
296
23 × 12 =

(Hint: 20×10=200  |  3×10=30  |  20×2=40  |  3×2=6  |  200+30+40+6=?)

🧩 Drag 6: Estimate First!

Round each number to the nearest 10, then multiply. Drag the best estimate for 31 × 19!

500
600
700
31 × 19 ≈

(Hint: Round 31 → 30, Round 19 → 20  |  30 × 20 = ?)

📝 Practice Questions

Show all your working — use whichever strategy you prefer!

  1. 7 × 8 = ?
  2. 12 × 11 = ?
  3. 45 × 10 = ?
  4. 36 × 100 = ?
  5. 7 × 1,000 = ?
  6. Find 24 × 5 using the halving & doubling trick.
  7. Find 36 × 4 by doubling twice.
  8. Find 15 × 6 using factors (× 2 then × 3).
  9. Use the grid method to find 23 × 7.
  10. Use the grid method to find 34 × 6.
  11. Use long multiplication or the grid method to find 24 × 13.
  12. Use long multiplication or the grid method to find 35 × 12.
  13. Estimate 48 × 21 by rounding both numbers to the nearest 10.
  14. A box contains 24 chocolates. There are 15 boxes. How many chocolates altogether?
  15. Find 18 × 5 using the halving trick.
  16. Multiply 27 × 100.
  17. Find 42 × 6 using factors (× 2 then × 3).
  18. A field is 32 m long and 14 m wide. What is its area in m²?
  19. Estimate 29 × 11, then calculate the exact answer.
  20. Find 56 × 4 using doubling (double twice).
  1. 56
  2. 132
  3. 450
  4. 3,600
  5. 7,000
  6. 120  (halve 24 = 12, double 5 = 10 → 12 × 10)
  7. 144  (36 → 72 → 144)
  8. 90  (15 × 2 = 30, 30 × 3 = 90)
  9. 161  (20 × 7 = 140, 3 × 7 = 21 → 161)
  10. 204  (30 × 6 = 180, 4 × 6 = 24 → 204)
  11. 312  (24 × 10 = 240, 24 × 3 = 72 → 312)
  12. 420  (35 × 10 = 350, 35 × 2 = 70 → 420)
  13. ≈ 1,000  (50 × 20 = 1,000)
  14. 360  (24 × 10 = 240, 24 × 5 = 120 → 360)
  15. 90  (halve 18 = 9, double 5 = 10 → 9 × 10)
  16. 2,700
  17. 252  (42 × 2 = 84, 84 × 3 = 252)
  18. 448 m²  (32 × 10 = 320, 32 × 4 = 128 → 448)
  19. Estimate: 30 × 10 = 300  |  Exact: 319  (29 × 11 = 29 × 10 + 29 = 290 + 29)
  20. 224  (56 → 112 → 224)

🔥 Challenge: Word Problems

Show all your working — these are exam-style questions!

  1. A baker makes 24 trays of cookies. Each tray holds 16 cookies. How many cookies does she make altogether?
  2. A cinema has 32 rows of seats. Each row has 18 seats. How many seats are in the cinema?
  3. A school orders 45 packs of pencils. Each pack contains 12 pencils. How many pencils are there altogether?
  4. A rectangular field is 56 m long and 23 m wide. What is the area of the field?
  5. Each page of a book has 28 lines. The book has 34 pages. How many lines are there in total?
  6. Estimate 47 × 19 by rounding, then calculate the exact answer.
  7. A shop sells 125 boxes per day for 14 days. How many boxes are sold in total?
  8. A factory produces 36 cars each day. It runs for 28 days. How many cars does it produce?
  9. Hannah reads 23 pages per day. How many pages does she read in 5 weeks?
  10. A rectangle has a length of 35 m and a width of 24 m. What is its area?
  1. 384  (24 × 16: 24 × 10 = 240, 24 × 6 = 144 → 384)
  2. 576  (32 × 18: 32 × 10 = 320, 32 × 8 = 256 → 576)
  3. 540  (45 × 12: 45 × 10 = 450, 45 × 2 = 90 → 540)
  4. 1,288 m²  (56 × 23: 56 × 20 = 1,120, 56 × 3 = 168 → 1,288)
  5. 952  (28 × 34: 28 × 30 = 840, 28 × 4 = 112 → 952)
  6. Estimate: 50 × 20 = 1,000  |  Exact: 893  (47 × 20 = 940, − 47 = 893)
  7. 1,750  (125 × 14: 125 × 10 = 1,250, 125 × 4 = 500 → 1,750)
  8. 1,008  (36 × 28: 36 × 30 = 1,080, − 36 × 2 = 72 → 1,008)
  9. 805 pages  (5 weeks = 35 days; 23 × 35: 23 × 30 = 690, 23 × 5 = 115 → 805)
  10. 840 m²  (35 × 24: 35 × 20 = 700, 35 × 4 = 140 → 840)
Created by Mr Josh