Max Maths, Year 3, Try it, Multiplying by 10 and doubling numbers mentally

In the 'Max Maths' Year 3 curriculum, students are encouraged to sharpen their mental arithmetic skills, particularly focusing on multiplying by 10 and doubling numbers. The 'Try It' section presents a straightforward exercise where pupils are tasked with multiplying single-digit and two-digit numbers by 10. This activity serves as an initial step towards mastering the concept of place value and understanding how multiplying by 10 shifts digits one place to the left, resulting in a new number that ends in zero. For example, the problem 11 × 10 invites students to calculate the product, which should be 110, while subsequent questions follow a similar pattern, reinforcing the learning objective.

The 'Let's Practise' segment builds on this foundation by providing a series of multiplication problems that students should solve in their heads, further reinforcing the concept of multiplying by 10. The exercise includes a mixture of single-digit and two-digit numbers, such as 9 × 10 and 73 × 10, allowing students to apply the rule consistently across different scenarios. To assist with verification of their mental calculations, counting blocks are suggested as a visual aid. This hands-on approach helps to solidify the students' understanding of the multiplication process and ensures they can confidently check their answers. For additional practice and reinforcement, students are directed to workbook pages 122 to 126, where they can engage with more exercises and continue to develop their numerical proficiency.