Multiplication as scaling
Interpret multiplication as scaling (resizing): compare the size of a product to a factor based on the size of the other factor without computing; explain the effect of multiplying by fractions greater than, equal to, or less than 1
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“If your child multiplies 20 by 1/4, can they predict whether the answer will be bigger or smaller than 20 — and explain why, before doing the calculation?”
Full guide and materials
- Activity. Interpret multiplication as scaling (resizing): compare the size of a product to a factor based on the size of the other factor without computing; explain the effect of multiplying by fractions greater than, equal to, or less than 1
What to notice. Predict without calculating whether 3/4 × 7 is greater or less than 7 • Explain why multiplying by 5/3 makes a number larger and multiplying by 2/5 makes it smaller • Relate multiplying a/b by n/n = 1 to the principle of fraction equivalence
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If your child multiplies 20 by 1/4, can they predict whether the answer will be bigger or smaller than 20 — and explain why, before doing the calculation?
Interpret multiplication as scaling (resizing): compare the size of a product to a factor based on the size of the other factor without computing; explain the effect of multiplying by fractions greater than, equal to, or less than 1
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Check understanding
- Predict without calculating whether 3/4 × 7 is greater or less than 7
- Explain why multiplying by 5/3 makes a number larger and multiplying by 2/5 makes it smaller
- Relate multiplying a/b by n/n = 1 to the principle of fraction equivalence
“If your child multiplies 20 by 1/4, can they predict whether the answer will be bigger or smaller than 20 — and explain why, before doing the calculation?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Domain
- Fractions
- Age range
- Ages 10–11