Multiplication

In these lessons, we will look at some examples of the multiplication of whole numbers.

For more practice in multiplication, you could go to our Interactive Math Zone where you can learn the multiplication tables and generate multiplication worksheets according to your needs and get them marked online.

The first number in the multiplication is called the multiplicand, the second number is called the multiplier and the answer is called the product.

The following diagram shows the parts of a multiplication: multiplicand, multiplier and product. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions on multiplication.
 

Remember : Any number multiplied by 0 becomes 0.

Example:
1,343,244,654 × 0 = 0.

Multiplication of 2 numbers a and b, written as a × b, is actually a repeated addition of the number a over b times.

Example:
6 × 4 = 6 times of 4 = 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 24

To multiply numbers with more than one digit correctly, all digits must be placed in the correct position starting from the right.

Example:

 

If the multiplier has 2 or more digits then it is necessary to calculate the partial products first and then add them to get the final product.

Example:

 

Example:

 

Avoid the following common mistakes in multiplication.
 

Examples A and B have numbers in the wrong positions – wrong place values.

Example C – it is confusing to multiply more than 2 numbers at one time. Multiply the first 2 numbers and then use the result to multiply with the third number to get the final answer.