Multiplication facts, step by step

Multiplication facts become manageable when children see them as equal groups, then practice recalling them in small doses.

The question

3 × 4

3×4
4 + 4 + 4=12
3×4=12
  1. 3 × 4 means 3 groups with 4 in each one — 3 rows of 4. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.
  2. That is 3 lots of 4, added up: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. The × sign is short for exactly that sum.
  3. So 3 × 4 = 12.

How it works.

  1. 01

    3 × 4 means 3 groups with 4 in each one — 3 rows of 4. The answer counts everything in all of them, not one row.

  2. 02

    That is 3 lots of 4, added up: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. The × sign is short for exactly that sum.

  3. 03

    So 3 × 4 = 12.