TABE Level D Math: Multiplying Whole Numbers

The answer to a multiplication problem is called the product. The numbers being multiplied are called factors. Multiplying whole numbers is really nothing more than a shortcut to repeated addition. 

In order to multiply accurately and easily, you need to know the multiplication table for the numbers 1 through 9. This is shown in the figure below. You need to memorize it.

Multiplication Table:

When you multiply two numbers that have more than one digit you have to pay close attention to place value. This means you have to “carry” an amount to the next place value.

1 Digit by 2 Digits:

Work from right to left: first multiply 6 times 8 to get 48.
Write the 8 under the 6 and carry the 4. Then multiply 6 times 5 and add the 4 you carried, getting 34.
Write the 34 to the left of the 8, to get the final answer 348.

2 Digits by 2 Digits:

Work from right to left, just as above, multiplying by 6.
Then do the same thing with the 3, except move the work over one place to the left.
Add the two lines to get the answer.

2 Digits by 3 Digits:

Work from right to left: first multiply by 4 times 9 to get 36.
Write the 6 under the 4 and carry the 3.
Multiply 4 times 2, getting 8 and add the 3 you carried, getting 11.
Write the 1 to the left of the 6.
Multiply 4 times 3 and add the 1 you carried, getting 13.
This gives you the first line of 1316.
Then do the same thing with 8, except move the work over one place to the left.
Add the two lines to get the answer.
You could multiply two numbers of any sizes by following this process. If the two numbers you are multiplying have different numbers of digits, you can always write the smaller number under the larger one and follow the pattern.

Practice Multiplying Whole Numbers
These problems are not in multiple-choice format, so that you won’t be tempted to guess the answer. You should rewrite the problems on a piece of paper vertically to work them.

1. 4 × 36

2. 7 × 83

3. 5 × 67

4. 6 × 91

5. 21 × 35

6. 17 × 18

7. 64 × 36

8. 79 × 54

9. 6 × 235

10. 2 × 189

11. 5 × 450

12. 9 × 754

13. 13 × 427

14. 71 × 765

15. 46 × 917

16. 68 × 872

Answers: Practice Multiplying Whole Numbers

1. 144

2. 581

3. 335

4. 546

5. 735

6. 306

7. 2,304

8. 4,266

9. 1,410

10. 378

11. 2,250

12. 6,786

13. 5,551

14. 54,315

15. 42,182

16. 59,296