Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Multiplying near multiples of 10 (1)

In "Max Maths, Year 6," students are learning to multiply numbers that are close to multiples of 10, a key mathematical skill that simplifies complex calculations. The first example illustrates this method through a real-world scenario: Tya's class of 31 learners each donate 45 cents to charity. To determine the total amount raised, the students learn to break down the problem by recognizing that 31 is one more than 30, a multiple of 10. They then multiply 30 by 45 and add one more group of 45. By first performing 3 × 45 mentally and then multiplying by 10, the students find that the class raises 1,395 cents, which is equivalent to $13.95. This approach simplifies the multiplication process and helps students manage larger numbers with ease.

The second example in the lesson involves calculating the total number of people arriving at a zoo in minibuses. Each minibus holds 19 people, which is one less than 20, again near a multiple of 10. When 28 full minibuses arrive, the students apply the same concept as before but subtract instead of adding. They calculate 20 × 28 by first doing 2 × 28 in their heads and then multiplying by 10. After subtracting one group of 28 from the result, they find that 532 people have arrived at the zoo. This method of adjusting numbers to nearby multiples of 10 and then correcting the total is a useful strategy for simplifying and solving multiplication problems efficiently.