🔢 Detailed Explanation of Multiply by 2
Multiplying by 2 means doubling a number. When you multiply a number by 2, you are adding that number to itself. For Year 2 learners in the UK, following the National Curriculum, understanding multiplication by 2 is an important step in learning maths because it helps with doubling and repeated addition.
❓ What Does Multiply by 2 Mean?
To multiply by 2 is to find two groups of the same number. For example, 2 x 3 means you have two groups of 3. You can think of it as 3 + 3, which equals 6.
✨ Using Double to Help Multiply by 2
Doubling is a simple way to multiply by 2. If you know your doubles, you can quickly multiply by 2. For Example:
- Double 4 is 8 (4 + 4 = 8)
- Double 5 is 10 (5 + 5 = 10)
This helps children see the connection between doubling and multiplying by 2.
📊 Arrays to Show Multiply by 2
An array is a neat way to organise objects in rows and columns that help children see the groups. For multiplying by 2, you can make 2 rows with the number of objects in each row equal to the number you are multiplying.
For example, to show 2 x 3:
- Make 2 rows with 3 stars in each row
★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★
Counting all stars gives 6 stars, which is 2 x 3.
➕ Repeated Addition for Multiplying by 2
Multiplying by 2 is the same as repeated addition. You add the same number twice. For example:
- 2 × 7 = 7 + 7 = 14
- 2 × 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
Repeated addition helps children understand multiplication as adding groups.
