Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Multiplying and dividing by multiples of 10 (3)

In the Max Maths Year 6 curriculum, students are encouraged to learn together as they explore the concept of multiplying and dividing by multiples of 10. A practical example is given with the calculation of 18,000 divided by 60. To simplify the process, both the divisor (60) and the dividend (18,000) are divided by 10, transforming the problem into 1,800 divided by 6, which equates to 300. This technique demonstrates that scaling down both numbers by the same factor does not alter the result, and thus, the original division of 18,000 by 60 also results in 300.

Building on this strategy, another problem asks students to mentally calculate 1,500 divided by 50. By applying the same principle of dividing both numbers by 10, the problem is simplified to 150 divided by 5, which equals 30. Similarly, for the division of 24,000 by 30, the numbers are scaled down by a factor of 10 to yield 2,400 divided by 3. Since 24 divided by 3 equals 8, and 2,400 is 24 multiplied by 100, it follows that 2,400 divided by 3 is 800. These exercises demonstrate a consistent method for simplifying division problems involving multiples of 10, enabling students to solve them mentally with greater ease.