Multiplication and division facts, step by step

Multiplication and division are one fact family read from two ends.

The question

11 × 5

11×5
11 × 5=5 × 11
5 × 5=25
5 × 6=30
25+30=55
11×5=55
  1. 11 × 5 means 11 groups with 5 in each one — 11 rows of 5. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.
  2. Added up, that is 5 written 11 times — nobody wants to do that. Turn it round: 5 × 11 is the same amount, and it is only 5 lots of 11 to add instead.
  3. If 5 × 11 will not come, split the 11 at five: 5 × 5 = 25, and 5 × 6 = 30. Together that is 25 + 30 = 55.
  4. So 11 × 5 = 55.

How it works.

  1. 01

    11 × 5 means 11 groups with 5 in each one — 11 rows of 5. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.

  2. 02

    Added up, that is 5 written 11 times — nobody wants to do that. Turn it round: 5 × 11 is the same amount, and it is only 5 lots of 11 to add instead.

  3. 03

    If 5 × 11 will not come, split the 11 at five: 5 × 5 = 25, and 5 × 6 = 30. Together that is 25 + 30 = 55.

  4. 04

    So 11 × 5 = 55.