Multiplication and Division - Factor Pairs - Starter

This set of mathematics exercises is designed for Year 4 students in the first week of the Spring Term, focusing on multiplication, division, and identifying factor pairs. The activities encourage students to become fluent in these mathematical operations through a series of questions. One task asks students to find a missing factor in a multiplication equation, exemplified by "7 × __ = 63", prompting them to identify the number that, when multiplied by 7, equals 63. Another problem challenges students to compare two multiplication products, specifically "6 × 8" and "7 × 4", and determine how much greater one is than the other.

Additional exercises include completing a table that requires students to think about multiplication in the context of repeated addition, such as having a certain number of lots of another number, three times. They are also asked to fill in the blanks for equations like "___ x 3 = 18" and solve for simple division problems such as "18 ÷ 3 = _____" and "28 ÷ 4 = _____". To apply their understanding in a practical context, students imagine constructing a cuboid using straws and playdough, and they must calculate the number of playdough balls required for the vertices of the shape. This hands-on approach helps students visualize and understand the mathematical concepts in a tangible way.