Step 2 Objective

Understand the principles of the commutative, associative and distributive laws as they apply to multiplication.


What if pupils find this a barrier?

happy learners

Lay out three rows of five counters and explain that this is the same as 3 × 5 and 5 × 3.

Show by grouping of counters that (3 × 4) × 5 is the same as 3 × (4 × 5).

Use a grid method to illustrate that 3 × 24 is the same as 3 × 20 + 3 × 4.