If we add something over and over, it's like having many groups of that number. When we have groups of something, we call that multiplication, and we use \times for multiplication.

6+6+6+6+6 is the same as 5 groups of 6, or 5 \times 6.

Arrays as products

In this video we see how rows and columns (called an array), can be used to solve multiplication.

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Examples

Example 2

Which of these number sentences describe the array?

There may be more than one correct answer.

The image shows an array with 8 columns and 2 rows. There are 16 squares in total.

16 \times 8 =2

8 \times 2 = 16

16 \times 2 =8

2 \times 8 =16

Worked Solution

Create a strategy

If we multiply the number of rows by the number of columns, we find the total number of squares.

Apply the idea

\displaystyle \text{Rows}	\displaystyle =	\displaystyle 2	Count the number of rows
\displaystyle \text{Columns}	\displaystyle =	\displaystyle 8	Count the number of columns
\displaystyle 8 \times 2	\displaystyle =	\displaystyle 16	Multiply the columns by the rows
\displaystyle 2 \times 8	\displaystyle =	\displaystyle 16	Multiply the rows by the columns

The number sentences which describe the array are options B and D.

Idea summary

We get the same answer whichever way we look at our array.

An image showing an array with 2 columns and 4 rows. There are 8 squares in total. Ask your teacher for more information.

Groups and arrays for division

We can also see how arrays can be used to solve division.

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Examples

Example 3

We can divide 84 by 6 by drawing 84 dots in 6 rows.

To work this out we can count groups of 6 until we reach 84.

But that could take a long time if we go 1 group of 6 at a time, so let's count up in larger groups.

If we first count 10 groups of 6, how many dots will we have used?

The image shows 1 column of 6 dots inside a rectangle. Ask your teacher for more information.

Worked Solution

Create a strategy

We need to multiply 6 rows by 10 columns using dots.

Apply the idea

Draw 10 columns of the 6 dots to get 60 dots:

The image shows 6 rows and 10 columns of dots inside a rectangle. There are 60 dots in total.

So we have used 60 dots.

How many dots are remaining when we take away the first 60?

Worked Solution

Create a strategy

Subtract the number of dots in part (a) from the total dots.

Apply the idea

We need to subtract 60 dots from part (a) from the 84 total dots. We can use a vertical algorithm.

\begin{array}{c} &&8&4 \\ &-&6&0 \\ \hline &&2&4 \\ \hline \end{array}

How many columns of 6 dots will we have in the group of 24?

Worked Solution

Create a strategy

Divide the number of groups by the number of dots in each column.

Apply the idea

\displaystyle \text{Columns}	\displaystyle =	\displaystyle 24 \div 6	Divide 24 by 6
	\displaystyle =	\displaystyle 4

We can also see that there are 4 columns in the array below:

A rectangle with 6 rows and 4 columns of dots labelled Total 24 dots. Ask your teacher for more information.

Here is the complete array.

A rectangle with 6 rows and 14 columns of dots. Ask your teacher for more information.

Using this, what is 84 \div 6?

Worked Solution

Create a strategy

Count the number of columns of dots in the array.

Apply the idea

There are 10 columns in the left part of the array, and 4 columns in the right part.

So altogether there are 10+4=14 columns of dots in the array.

This means that: 84 \div 6=14

Idea summary

We can use an array to show multiplication (groups of) and division (sharing into groups of), which helps us to write out the numerical problems.

The image shows multiplication and division using arrays. Ask your teacher for more information.

3.02 Groups and arrays

Ideas

Are you ready?

Examples

Example 1

Arrays as products

Examples

Example 2

Groups and arrays for division

Examples

Example 3

What is Mathspace

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