Question 1
2 equal groups have 4 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
2 equal groups have 4 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
Count 4 and 4.
Year 1
Understand multiplication as making equal groups
See that multiplication means making equal groups with the same number in each group.
Lesson overview
Number - multiplication and division
Multiplication starts with equal groups. If each group has the same number, we can count all the groups to find how many there are altogether. We do not need times tables first. We begin by seeing and counting equal groups carefully.
2 groups of 3 counters
Each group has 3 counters, so the groups are equal.
2 groups of 3 make 6
3 groups of 2 counters
Count the groups, then count all the counters altogether.
3 groups of 2 make 6
3 groups of 4 counters
Every group has 4, so this is multiplication as equal groups.
3 groups of 4 make 12
Worked example
There are 3 equal groups with 5 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
There are 3 equal groups with 5 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
Start by checking that each group has the same number.
3 groups of 5 make 15
- Count the groups. There are 3 groups.
- Count how many counters are in each group. There are 5 in each group.
- Check that the groups are equal because each group has the same number.
- Count all the counters altogether. There are 15.
Try it
Check that the groups are equal, then count all the counters.
Question 2
What does 3 groups of 2 make?
What does 3 groups of 2 make?
Count all the counters in the equal groups.
Question 3
3 equal groups have 3 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
3 equal groups have 3 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
Count 3, 6, 9.
Question 4
Why are these groups a multiplication picture?
Why are these groups a multiplication picture?
Look at what is the same in each group.
Question 5
2 equal groups have 5 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
2 equal groups have 5 counters in each group. How many counters are there altogether?
Count 5 and 5.
Common mistakes
These reminders help when learning about equal groups.
- Counting the number in one group but forgetting how many groups there are.
- Using groups that are not equal and calling it multiplication.
- Counting only the groups and not all the counters altogether.
Related topics
These connect closely to making equal groups.
- Solve one-step multiplication and division problems using concrete objects, pictorial representations and arrays with support.
- Add and subtract one-digit and two-digit numbers to 20, including zero.