Multiply whole numbers using efficient methods

The ArithmeKit from Buzzard Publishing provides a comprehensive approach to teaching students how to multiply whole numbers using efficient methods. The kit includes a variety of multiplication problems that encourage students to discern when to apply mental arithmetic and when to resort to written methods. It presents exercises such as multiplying a four-digit number by a two-digit number, where students are prompted to consider the most efficient approach. For example, when faced with simpler calculations like 200 × 49 or 126 × 50, mental strategies or jottings might suffice. However, for more complex multiplications such as 3102 × 36 or 4237 × 38, a written method like long multiplication is recommended.

The kit further challenges students to calculate products of numbers paired with multiples of 10, 50, and 100, both mentally and in writing, to compare the efficiency of different methods. For instance, multiplying 2465 × 50 could be done mentally by simply adding a zero to the end of 2465 and doubling it, whereas 2465 × 49 may require a written approach for accuracy. The exercises extend to include convincing tasks where students must justify why long multiplication is more efficient than the grid method for certain problems, such as 2437 × 23. Additionally, the kit includes a variety of multiplication problems, ranging from simple (e.g., 652 × 5) to complex (e.g., 8659 × 73), to cater to diverse learning needs and to reinforce the concept of using the most appropriate multiplication method for each scenario.