Max Maths, Year 3, Try it, Multiplying by 6, 7, 8 and 9

In the 'Max Maths' programme for Year 3, students are encouraged to develop their mental arithmetic skills, particularly in the area of multiplication. The 'Let's Practise' section offers a series of multiplication exercises that focus on multiplying by the numbers 6, 7, 8, and 9. The first activity requires pupils to complete a set of calculations mentally, such as multiplying 3 by 6, 5 by 7, and so on, through a series of progressively challenging multiplications up to 7 multiplied by 10. This exercise not only reinforces their times tables but also aims to boost their confidence in performing quick mental calculations.

The second activity continues to strengthen mental multiplication skills, with a twist that emphasises the commutative property of multiplication – the idea that the order of numbers does not affect the result (e.g., 7 × 3 is the same as 3 × 7). Students are tasked with solving pairs of multiplications that flip the order of the numbers, such as 6 × 8 and 8 × 6, demonstrating that regardless of the order, the product remains consistent. This helps to deepen their understanding of multiplication concepts and prepares them for more complex mathematical challenges. For further practice and to consolidate their learning, students are directed to workbook pages 118 to 120.