Column Method
Maths: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 5.3.4
Column Multiplication
We can use the column method to multiply numbers together that are difficult to do mentally. Column multiplication is a way of writing down your working.
Column multiplication
- When doing column multiplication, we need to line the numbers up in the columns which represent their place value.
Method
- When you use column calculations, you need to always start by multiplying the smallest column.
- This is on the right of the column addition calculation.
- 2 x 2 = 4
- Write the answer directly below the column as shown.
Carrying
- Sometimes the two digits in a column multiply to make 10 or more.
- 5 x 2 = 10
- So we need to carry a 1 into the column on the left by writing it below.
Method cont.
- We now mutliply the number in the last column on the left:
- 2 x 2 = 4
- We have a 1 to carry over, so we add this to 4:
- 4 + 1 = 5
Answer
- The final answer is the number you are left with below the line.
Test yourself on Column Method
Which place value column do you start with when doing column multiplication?