Multiplication by a 2 Digit Number

Maths: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 5.2.1

Multiplying by a 2 Digit Number With the Column Method

You can also use column multiplication when you multiply by a 2 digit number. The process is slightly different than multiplying by a 1 digit number. Let's look at 4,372 × 24 as an example.

Setting up your columns

Setting up your columns

  • You set up the multiplication by lining up the digits in your numbers using place value.
Multiply 4,372 by 4

Multiply 4,372 by 4

  • The first step is to treat the calculation as you would when multiplying by a one-digit number.
  • Multiply 4,372 by 4.
Then multiply by 20

Then multiply by 20

  • Then you look at multiplying the 4,372 by 20.
  • Multiplying by 20 may seem quite scary.
  • But it's easier than you'd think!
Add in a 0 in the 'ones'

Add in a 0 in the 'ones'

  • In our next row, you put a 0 at the end.
  • You put a 0 because you are multiplying by a multiple of 10.
  • All the multiples of 10 end in 0.
Multiply 4,372 by 20

Multiply 4,372 by 20

  • Start by multiplying 2 'ones' by 2 'tens'
  • Put your answer in the second row.
Multiply 7 'tens' by 2 'tens'

Multiply 7 'tens' by 2 'tens'

  • Next, multiply 7 'tens' by 2 'tens'
  • Put your answer in the second row.
Multiply 3 'hundreds' by 2 'tens'

Multiply 3 'hundreds' by 2 'tens'

  • Next, multiply 3 'hundreds' by 2 'tens'
  • Put your answer in the second row.
  • Don't forget to add the 1 that was carried from the 'tens'.
Multiply 4 'thousands' by 2 'tens'

Multiply 4 'thousands' by 2 'tens'

  • Next, multiply 4 'thousands' by 2 'tens'
  • Put your answer in the second row.
  • You have calculated:
  • 4,372 × 4 = 17,488
  • 4,372 × 20 = 87,440
Add to find you answer

Add to find you answer

  • 4,372 × 24 is the same as (4,372 × 4) ++ (4,372 × 20).
  • 4,372 × 24 = (4,372 × 4) ++ (4,372 × 20)
  • 4,372 × 24 = 17,488 ++ 87,440
  • 4,372 × 24 = 104,928

Test yourself on Multiplication by a 2 Digit Number

  • What digit goes in the 'ones' column of the second row?

  • What calculation do you do next?

  • What digit goes in the 'ones' column of the second row?

  • What calculation do you do next?

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