Multiplication and Division - Vocabulary

The Autumn Multiplication Year 4 curriculum introduces students to foundational concepts in multiplication and division. The term 'Equal Groups' is used to describe a multiplication scenario where there is a specific number of groups containing the same quantity of items. For example, 7 x 3 = 21 signifies that there are 3 groups, each with 7 items. This concept is closely related to 'Repeated Addition', which involves adding the same number multiple times, such as 7 + 7 + 7 to achieve the same product. The action of combining equal groups is referred to as 'Multiply', and 'Lots Of' is a phrase that helps students frame their multiplication sentences, such as '7 lots of 3' to indicate 3 groups of 7.

Students also learn about 'Arrays', which are visual representations of objects arranged in rows and columns to facilitate multiplication. The terms 'Multiplier' and 'Multiplicand' denote the numbers involved in multiplication, both of which are factors, while the 'Product' is the result of the operation. The 'Commutative Law' is a principle that states the order of factors does not affect the multiplication result, exemplified by 7 x 8 and 8 x 7 both equaling 56. Division is introduced through 'Sharing' and 'Grouping', where students learn to divide quantities into equal parts, and 'Division Facts' are the division sentences that relate to the times tables. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of understanding the 'Inverse' relationship between multiplication and division, and encourages the use of 'Concrete Methods', like physical objects, and 'Pictorial Methods', such as drawings, to solve problems. The 'Distributive Law' is another strategy taught, allowing for the breaking down of more complex multiplication into simpler problems. Students also become familiar with 'Multiples', the results of multiplying a number by whole numbers, and 'Fact Families', which are sets of related multiplication and division facts.