What is Multiplication?

Multiplication is a fast way of adding the same number over and over. For example, if you have 3 bags of apples and each bag has 4 apples, multiplication helps you find out that you have 12 apples in all. Instead of adding 4 + 4 + 4, you can simply multiply 3 × 4. The times sign (×) shows that you're multiplying. It's a helpful way to find totals quickly when you have equal groups of something.

We use multiplication in many parts of daily life. If you're setting the table and each person needs 2 forks, you can multiply to find out how many forks are needed for 6 people. At a store, you might multiply the price of one item by how many you're buying to figure out the total cost. Multiplication also helps when you’re counting groups of things, like rows of chairs, boxes of toys, or packs of markers. It’s a quick way to solve problems with equal amounts.