Multiply Mentally by Breaking Numbers Apart

Use Multiply 5-Digit Numbers by 1-Digit Numbers as a warm up, then add one digit to the bottom factor at a time. Ask students to estimate first, for example 7,659 × 968 is close to 8,000 × 1,000.

Multiply mentally by splitting a factor by place value in 16 products like 8 × 385 and 44 × 36. To multiply in parts, split a factor by place value: 6 × 247 = 6 × 200 + 6 × 40 + 6 × 7 = 1,200 + 240 + 42 = 1,482. The directions on the page read: Write the second factor in parts by place value and multiply each part. Work in your head, then add the parts to find the product. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 6th Grade multiplication & division, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with multi-digit multiplication. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

It is the product of the top number and one digit of the bottom number. For 187 × 43, the partial products are 561 and 7,480, and they add to 8,041.

Fluent multiplication is needed for decimal multiplication, long division and area. The sheets review the 5th grade standard 5.NBT.B.5 with bigger factors, up to 7,659 × 968.

Splitting a factor by place value turns one hard product into easy ones, so 6 × 549 = 6 × 500 + 6 × 40 + 6 × 9 = 3,294. It is the distributive property in action.