Multiplication by 4, step by step

The four times table is the two times table done twice.

The question

8 × 4

8×4
8 × 4=4 × 8
4 × 5=20
4 × 3=12
20+12=32
8×4=32
  1. 8 × 4 means 8 groups with 4 in each one — 8 rows of 4. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.
  2. Added up, that is 4 written 8 times — nobody wants to do that. Turn it round: 4 × 8 is the same amount, and it is only 4 lots of 8 to add instead.
  3. If 4 × 8 will not come, split the 8 at five: 4 × 5 = 20, and 4 × 3 = 12. Together that is 20 + 12 = 32.
  4. So 8 × 4 = 32.

How it works.

  1. 01

    8 × 4 means 8 groups with 4 in each one — 8 rows of 4. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.

  2. 02

    Added up, that is 4 written 8 times — nobody wants to do that. Turn it round: 4 × 8 is the same amount, and it is only 4 lots of 8 to add instead.

  3. 03

    If 4 × 8 will not come, split the 8 at five: 4 × 5 = 20, and 4 × 3 = 12. Together that is 20 + 12 = 32.

  4. 04

    So 8 × 4 = 32.