What students learn in AC9M4N05
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples.... The goal is not to memorise one answer pattern. Students should be able to explain the idea, recognise it in a new example and apply it in a short practice or worksheet task.
- Start with the main idea: solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples and powers of 10 without a calculator, using the multiplicative relationship between the place value of digits.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- using physical or virtual materials to demonstrate the multiplicative relationship between the places using materials such as place value charts, numeral expanders or sliders to recognise and explain why multiplying by 10 moves the digits one place to the left and dividing by 10 moves digits one place to the right
- Finish with mixed questions so students must choose the correct strategy rather than copy the last example.
Curriculum coverage and elaborations
The content description and elaborations below show the curriculum ideas taught in this unit. Items marked as teaching context support lesson planning but may not appear in the initial eight-question activity.
- Content description: solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples and powers of 10 without a calculator, using the multiplicative relationship between the place value of digits
- E1: using physical or virtual materials to demonstrate the multiplicative relationship between the places
- E2: using materials such as place value charts, numeral expanders or sliders to recognise and explain why multiplying by 10 moves the digits one place to the left and dividing by 10 moves digits one place to the right
- E3: using a calculator or other digital tools to recognise and develop an understanding of the effect of multiplying or dividing numbers by 10s, 100s and 1000s, recording sequences in a place value chart, in a table or spreadsheet, generalising the patterns noticed and applying them to solve multiplicative problems without a calculator
How to use this unit
Read the topic guide, use the teacher slide for instruction, then complete the Worksheet, Practice and Test. These three activities use the same eight-question unit bank.
Teacher resource
AC9M4N05 teacher slide
Use this one-page PDF to introduce the key idea, vocabulary and teaching sequence before students begin the activities.
Open teacher slide (PDF)Common mistakes to watch for
- Rushing to a rule before checking the concrete model, drawing or number sentence.
- Using the correct answer once but not being able to explain why it works.
- Mixing up similar vocabulary such as more/less, before/after, longer/shorter or equal groups/sharing.
International curriculum mapping
This table gives closest-topic mapping for search and planning. The Australian Curriculum code is exact; overseas entries are broad equivalents because each jurisdiction structures outcomes differently.
| Region | Curriculum | Closest mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Curriculum v9.0 | AC9M4N05 — solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples and powers of 10 without a calculator, using the multiplicative relationship between the place value of digits |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Year 4 Maths: closest match in Number. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Stage 2 Maths: closest content focus for Solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples... and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Grade 4 Common Core Mathematics/ELA closest topic match for Solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples.... |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 2 / Year 4: closest programme-of-study match for Solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples.... |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Grade 4 closest topic match. Canada varies by province, so use this as a broad Ontario/BC-style learning outcome reference. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Curriculum | Level 2 Maths: closest achievement-objective topic for Solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples.... |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Class 4 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Solve problems involving multiplying or dividing natural numbers by multiples.... |