Max Maths, Year 4, Work Book, Mental multiplication

The Max Maths workbook for Year 4 includes a section on mental multiplication, which is an essential skill for young learners to master. Practice 5 focuses on doubling numbers, which is a fundamental aspect of mental multiplication. The exercise prompts students to complete a series of calculations by doubling various numbers, ranging from single to triple digits. The task is to work out the answers mentally, reinforcing the concept that doubling a number is equivalent to multiplying it by 2. This practice helps to cement the understanding of multiplication as repeated addition and prepares students for more complex mathematical concepts.

In the next section, the workbook shifts the focus to halving numbers, which is another critical mental arithmetic skill. Students are asked to halve a range of numbers, again practicing mentally. This exercise is designed to instil the understanding that halving is the same as dividing by 2. Following this, the workbook presents a challenge where students must multiply numbers by 4 and 5, encouraging them to use their mental strategies to find the answers quickly. Finally, there is an exercise that combines skills: students first double a number and then multiply by 10 to effectively multiply the original number by 20. These exercises not only enhance mental arithmetic skills but also build confidence in handling numbers in various mathematical operations.