Comparing with multiplication

The Comparing with multiplication exercise appears under the 4th grade (U.S.) Math Mission, Arithmetic essentials Math Mission. This exercise helps to understand comparison of numbers via multiplication, i.e., how many times larger or smaller a number is than another number.

Types of Problems

There are three types of problems in this exercise:

1. Write equation: This problem describes a multiplication fact. The user is asked to write the multiplication fact in symbols.

   

   Write equation

2. Fill in blanks: This problem asks to compare numbers via multiplication. The user is asked to fill in either one or two blanks to describe the multiplication fact. The example shown here is one with a single blank to fill in.

   

   Fill in blanks

3. Sum versus product: This problem describes how two numbers are related to each other via addition. The user is to fill in a blank to find a relation between the numbers via multiplication.

   

   Sum versus product

Strategies

This exercise is easy to get accuracy badges because the products and numbers are all within the standard 10 by 10 multiplication table. Speed badges are also easy because the answers all follow a standard template and can be filled in quickly.

1. On Write equation it appears user will always use the = sign.
2. "Write equation should be done in same form as the other problems (full product on the left of the equals sign) so that user can get into a habit of reading the multiplication corrects for the other problems.
3. On "Fill in blanks and Sum versus product the blanks are always the product first, and the two numbers being multiplied in the last two spots.
4. Sum versus product can be done without reading the addition comparison. Perform the problem just like Fill in blanks.

Real-life Applications

1. Multiplication is needed and used by mechanics for repairing cars by multiplying when they overhaul the engine, measure the pistons or just to put in a new gearbox or engine.
2. By learning multiplication and memorizing the times tables, users provide themselves with essential building blocks to do higher learning math, like division, fractions and even algebra.
3. Multiplication is necessary for a career in the stock market.