Year 4 Mathematics · AC9M4A02

Recall and demonstrate proficiency with multiplication facts up to 10 x 10 and related division facts

recall and demonstrate proficiency with multiplication facts up to 10 x 10 and related division facts; extend and apply facts to develop efficient mental strategies for…

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Learning goalsSay it simply

Fluent facts to 10 × 10 form a connected network. An array shows equal rows and columns; turning it, splitting it or making an equal copy helps explain a fact. The same product and factors also give related division facts.

Learning intention: Recall and explain multiplication and division facts, then use those facts to calculate efficiently with larger numbers without a calculator.

  • Recall multiplication facts with factors from 1 to 10, including 10 × 10.
  • Draw or build an array and use it to explain a pattern and related division.
  • Use doubling, halving, turning, splitting or a nearby fact and state why it works.
  • Create and play a fact-card game that requires explanation as well as recall.
  • Apply smaller facts to larger mental products and exact divisions, then check with the inverse.

Learning routine: Recall a known fact → represent or connect it → choose a useful strategy → calculate mentally → check.

Clean visual examplesOne-page board

Clean one-page examples

AC9M4A02 — worked mathematical models
Example 1

Build sevens from twos and fives

Each of the 6 rows still contains 7 counters.

Worked example: 6 × 2 = 12 and 6 × 5 = 30. Join the parts: 12 + 30 = 42, so 6 × 7 = 42. Read the same array as 42 ÷ 6 = 7 in each row and 42 ÷ 7 = 6 in each column.

Teacher asks: “What does the 6 count in both parts?” Students point to the six rows. If a learner adds 6 + 7, count one complete row and explain that there are six equal copies.

Example 2

Double threes to build sixes

The equal copy doubles the rows and the total.

3 × 8 = 24. A second identical array adds another 24, so 6 × 8 = 48. The multiples 3, 6, 9, 12 double to 6, 12, 18, 24. Each pair keeps the same multiplier: 3 × 4 = 12 becomes 6 × 4 = 24.

Quick checkpoint: “If 3 × 7 = 21, what is 6 × 7, and why?” Answer: 42, because two copies of 21 make 42. Continue when students name the doubled group count; otherwise build the second copy.

Example 3

Turn and halve arrays

Turning changes the row and column roles, not the number of counters.

3 × 8 = 8 × 3 = 24. For halving, 10 × 6 = 60; half the rows gives 5 × 6 = 30. Halving one factor halves the product. If one factor doubles while the other halves, the product stays equal: 25 × 8 = 50 × 4 = 100 × 2 = 200.

Example 4

Build a fact network around 7 × 8 = 56

ConnectionCalculation
Turn the array8 × 7 = 56
Related division56 ÷ 7 = 8 and 56 ÷ 8 = 7
Double one factor14 × 8 = 112 and 7 × 16 = 112
Scale one factor70 × 8 = 560: 56 tens

One known fact supports commuted facts, inverse divisions, doubled facts and place-value extensions. Say which number changes and why the total changes or stays equal.

Example 5

Derive larger products and divisions mentally

ProblemEfficient worked thinking
16 × 710 × 7 + 6 × 7 = 70 + 42 = 112.
25 × 850 × 4 = 100 × 2 = 200; or 20 × 8 + 5 × 8 = 160 + 40 = 200.
48 ÷ 66 × 8 = 48, so 48 ÷ 6 = 8.
9 × 3410 × 34 − 34 = 340 − 34 = 306.
168 ÷ 7140 ÷ 7 + 28 ÷ 7 = 20 + 4 = 24. Check 7 × 24 = 168.

Choose a relationship that turns the unknown calculation into facts already known. Add all partial products or quotients. These are mental strategies; formal long multiplication, long division and calculator methods are not the target.

Curriculum examplesCopied content

Content description: recall and demonstrate proficiency with multiplication facts up to 10 x 10 and related division facts; extend and apply facts to develop efficient mental strategies for computation with larger numbers without a calculator

Elaboration 1

E1: using arrays on grid paper or created with blocks or counters to develop, represent and explain patterns in the 10 × 10 multiplication facts; using the arrays to explain the related division facts

Teach and do: Build 4 rows of 7 with counters. Record 4 × 7 = 28 and 7 × 4 = 28, then 28 ÷ 4 = 7 and 28 ÷ 7 = 4. Add a fifth row: the total grows by 7 to 35. Students build a different array, label rows/columns/whole and explain one pattern and both divisions. Look for equal rows and a connection between whole and factors.

Elaboration 2

E2: using materials or diagrams to develop and record multiplication strategies such as doubling, halving, commutativity, and adding one more or subtracting from a group to reach a known fact; for example, creating multiples of 3 on grid paper and doubling to find multiples of 6; recording and explaining the connections to the ×3 and ×6 multiplication facts: 3, 6, 9, … doubled is 6, 12, 18, …

Worked connections: Use 3 × 8 = 24 and double 24 to obtain 6 × 8 = 48; use 10 × 6 = 60 and halve 60 to obtain 5 × 6 = 30; turn 3 × 8 into 8 × 3; add one group of 6 to 6 × 6 = 36 to get 7 × 6 = 42; remove one group of 6 from 10 × 6 = 60 to get 9 × 6 = 54. Students show a chosen connection with an actual diagram and explain what changes.

Elaboration 3

E3: using known multiplication facts for 2, 3, 5 and 10 to establish multiplication facts for 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in different ways; for example, using multiples of 10 to establish the multiples of 9 as “to multiply a number by 9 you multiply by 10 then take the number away”; 9 × 4 = 10 × 4 – 4, so 9 × 4 is 40 – 4 = 36; using multiple of 3 as “to multiply a number by 9 you multiply by 3, and then multiply the result by 3 again”

Strategy menu: Build fours by doubling twos; sixes by doubling threes; sevens by joining fives and twos; eights by doubling fours; nines by subtracting one group from tens. For 9 × 5, either 50 − 5 = 45 or 3 × 5 = 15 then 3 × 15 = 45. In the second method there are three lots of three groups of 5, making nine groups. Ask students to compare two strategies for one fact, rather than memorise a rule without meaning.

Elaboration 4

E4: using arrays and known multiplication facts for twos and fives to develop the multiplication facts for sevens, applying the distributive property of multiplication; for example, when finding 6 × 7, knowing that 7 is made up of 2 and 5, and using an array to show that 6 × 7 is the same as 6 × 2 + 6 × 5 = 12 + 30 which is 42

Worked array: In 6 rows of 7, colour 2 columns blue and 5 gold. The parts give 6 × 2 = 12 and 6 × 5 = 30, so 6 × 7 = 42. Students create a sevens array of their own, show the 2+5 column split and write both partial products and the sum. If a learner writes 6 × 2 + 5, ask where the other five rows of gold counters went.

Elaboration 5

E5: using known multiplication facts up to 10 × 10 and the inverse relationship of multiplication and division to establish corresponding division facts

Worked inverse: From 7 × 8 = 56, there are 8 groups of 7 in 56 and 7 groups of 8 in 56. Thus 56 ÷ 7 = 8 and 56 ÷ 8 = 7. Distinguish “how many groups?” from “how many in each group?” With square facts the two division statements coincide: 6 × 6 = 36 gives 36 ÷ 6 = 6.

Elaboration 6

E6: designing, creating and playing instructive card games that involve the recall, recognition and explanation of the 10 × 10 multiplication facts and related division facts

Create and play: Use three multiplication facts with different products and factors 1–10. Make four cards per family: a multiplication, its product and two related divisions. Write rules: match a product, explain a mental strategy, then check a related division. Play three turns with a partner and keep a written record of the cards, strategy and division check. For 6 × 8, match 48, explain 3 × 8 = 24, so 6 × 8 = 24 + 24 = 48, then say 48 ÷ 6 = 8. The adult checks the actual 12 cards, rules and recorded play; varied correct games are welcome.

Questions and answersWith answers

Which facts are related to 7 × 8 = 56?

Answer: 8 × 7 = 56; 56 ÷ 7 = 8; 56 ÷ 8 = 7. They use the same whole and factors.

How does 10 × 34 help find 9 × 34?

Answer: 340 − 34 = 306. Remove one whole group of 34.

How can 168 ÷ 7 be solved mentally?

Answer: 140 ÷ 7 + 28 ÷ 7 = 20 + 4 = 24. Multiply 24 by 7 to check 168.

How can you derive 16 × 7?

Answer: 10 × 7 + 6 × 7 = 70 + 42 = 112, or use 8 × 7 = 56 and double 56 to 112.

Why does doubling one factor double the product?

Answer: An equal copy of all the groups adds the original total again. The other factor stays unchanged.

What makes a fact game instructive?

Answer: Players must recall a fact, recognise its matching product and explain a strategy plus a related division; the game includes correct cards and rules that require those actions.

Practice and reviewReady for practice

1. Fact-family web

Use 6 × 9 = 54. Write the turned fact, two divisions, a doubled fact and a tens extension. Answers: 9 × 6 = 54; 54 ÷ 6 = 9; 54 ÷ 9 = 6; 12 × 9 = 108; 60 × 9 = 540. Explain which relation justifies each.

2. Derived-fact challenge

Solve 19 × 6, 32 × 4 and 15 × 8 without a calculator. Worked answers: 20 × 6 − 6 = 120 − 6 = 114; 30 × 4 + 2 × 4 = 120 + 8 = 128; 10 × 8 + 5 × 8 = 80 + 40 = 120. Students compare another valid strategy and explain which is easiest for them.

3. Mental division

Partition 168 into 140 and 28. Divide both by 7:20 + 4 = 24. Check: 7 × 24 = 7 × 20 + 7 × 4 = 140 + 28 = 168. If a learner divides only 140, point to the unshared 28 and complete its share.

4. Fact-card workshop

Use the creation and play steps in E6. Before playing, a partner verifies each family by drawing a small array or using a known fact. During play, a correct answer earns a match; a correct strategy and inverse check complete the turn. Record evidence of explanation, not only a score.

Assessment-style questions and review hints

Find 9 × 7 using a tens fact.

Answer: 10 × 7 − 7 = 70 − 7 = 63. Review hint: remove a group of 7, not one counter.

Find 320 ÷ 8 mentally and check.

Answer: 32 tens ÷ 8 = 4 tens = 40; 8 × 40 = 320. Review hint: track the tens unit.

Draw 5 rows of 7 and show two related divisions.

Answer: The model contains 35; 35 ÷ 5 = 7 and 35 ÷ 7 = 5. Review hint: use the whole 35 as the dividend.

Common misconceptions

  • Adding row and column counts: 6 × 7 means six equal groups of seven; use the array to count 42.
  • Changing a factor by 1 and changing the product by 1: one more or fewer group changes the total by the size of that group.
  • Dropping a part: 23 × 4 needs 20 × 4 and 3 × 4; recombine 80 + 12 = 92.
  • Division backwards: start with the whole product. From 6 × 4 = 24, use 24 ÷ 6 or 24 ÷ 4.
  • Unexplained zero rule: 60 × 8 = 480 because 6 tens × 8 = 48 tens; name the unit.

Support / Core / Extend

  • Support: Use movable counters and facts for 2, 3, 5 and 10. Let students point to equal groups, say a fact and build its inverse before removing the model.
  • Core: Recall and explain facts through 10 × 10, use a 2+5 split for sevens, create a fact game and solve larger mental calculations.
  • Extend: Compare two efficient mental methods for 25 × 12 or 196 ÷ 7. Answers: 300 and 28; for division, 140 ÷ 7 + 56 ÷ 7 = 20 + 8. Require a reason for the chosen method.

Exit ticket and mastery evidence

Exit ticket: On paper, (1) derive 8 × 6 from 4 × 6 and explain; (2) give both division facts for 7 × 9 = 63; (3) find 18 × 5 mentally and show a check.

Answers and evidence: (1) 4 × 6 = 24, double 24 to 48 because there are twice as many rows. (2) 63 ÷ 7 = 9 and 63 ÷ 9 = 7. (3) 20 × 5 − 2 × 5 = 100 − 10 = 90; 90 ÷ 5 = 18 checks. Accept equivalent efficient reasoning. If a learner gives a result without the connection, revisit a matching array; if place value is lost, name the groups or units before calculating.

Curriculum alignmentStart here

AC9M4A02: recall and demonstrate proficiency with multiplication facts up to 10 x 10 and related division facts; extend and apply facts to develop efficient mental strategies for computation with larger numbers without a calculator

Prerequisites: Equal groups, arrays, repeated addition and place value in whole numbers. Must teach: facts through 10 × 10, inverse divisions, explanations with arrays, game creation and larger mental extensions. Useful informal support: turning and partitioning arrays. Boundary: Formal written multiplication/division algorithms and calculators are not this code’s target.

Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 mathematics resources (QCAA)

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