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Multiplication is Repeated Addition

Q: 2. Why is multiplication called repeated addition?

Answer: Multiplication combines equal groups quickly. For example , 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 can be written as 4 × 3.

Multiplication is repeated addition of equal groups. Instead of adding the same number again and again, multiplication helps us find the total quickly. Learn multiplication through examples, pictures, word problems, and worksheets.

What Does Multiplication as Repeated Addition Mean?

Multiplication as repeated addition means adding the same number again and again to find the total. Instead of writing a long addition sentence, we can use multiplication to get the answer more quickly.

For example:

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12

Here, the number 3 is added 4 times. We can write this as:

4 × 3 = 12

This means 4 groups of 3 make 12.

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PLAY Multiplication Quiz GAME

We know multiplication is repeated addition. Let us have a quick recall of what we have learnt about multiplication.

There are 5 groups of 2 balloons. We can say 5 times 2.

We can skip count to get the total when there are equal groups of objects.

Skip count 5 times 2, we will get 10.

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10

We write 5 times 2 = 10

Repeated addition means Multiplication. We use ‘×’ symbol to show multiplication. The result of two or more numbers when multiplied is called the product.

5 × 2 = 10

Let us take another example. There are 2 groups with 4 leaves in each. We can say 2 groups of 4 or 2 times 4. We can skip count 2 times 4 to get the total.

4 + 4 = 8

We write, 2 × 4 = 8

Examples of Multiplication as Repeated Addition:

Consider the following:

I. Andrea made sandwiches for 12 people. When they shared it equally, each of them got ½ a sandwich. How many sandwiches did Andrea make?

Repeated Addition:

We know each people will get ½ a sandwich.

Multiplication:

½ × 12

= $\frac{12}{2}$

= 6

Therefore, Andrea made 6 sandwiches and shared with 12 people each of them got ½ a sandwich.

II. Doreen then poured out a few bottles of fresh orange juice equally among the 8 people. Each of them got $\frac{3}{4}$ of a glass. How many bottles of fresh orange juice did Andrea use?

Repeated addition:

Multiplication:

¾× 8

= $\frac{24}{4}$

= 6

Doreen used 6 bottles of fresh orange juice.

So, would you like to still continue adding or would you rather multiply.

III.

In the above example 4 is repeated 5 times. Adding the same number is called repeated addition.

IV.

Multiplication as repeated addition example with equal groups

There are 5 twos in all. Their sum is 10.

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 equals 10.

2 has been added 5 times.

5 twos are 10 or 5 times 2 equals 10.

The short way of thinking about repeated addition is called multiplication.

We say that 5 times 2 equals 10 or 5 multiplied by 2 is 10 and we write 5 × 2 = 10. 10 is called the product of 5 and 2. The numbers 5 and 2 are called factors.

x is the sign of multiplication.

Since from the above examples, we can understand clearly that multiplication is faster than repeated addition.

Equal Groups and Multiplication:

Multiplication is Adding Equal Groups.

1. If Sara has 3 cats how can she count quickly the numbers of legs 3 cats have in all?

3 groups of 4 legs; 3 times 4 = 12

2. If a teacher has 5 books and there are 3 teachers, how many books do they have in all?

3 times 5 = 15 ; 3 × 5 = 15

The sign ‘×’ is used to show multiplication. The result of multiplication is called product.

Multiplication Practice Questions:

Questions and Answers on Multiplication is Repeated Addition:

1. Count the objects in each group and fill in the boxes. One has been done for you.

(i)		4 groups of 3 = 4 × 3
(ii)		__ groups of __ = __ × __
(iii)		__ groups of __ = __ × __
(iv)		__ groups of __ = __ × __
(v)		__ groups of __ = __ × __

Answer:

1. (ii) 4 × 1

(iii) 4 × 2

(iv) 3 × 4

(v) 2 × 5

2. Write the addition and multiplication facts. One has been done for you.

(i) 3 times 4 = 4 + 4 + 4 = 3 × 4

(ii) 5 times 2 = ___________ = __________

(iii) 7 times 3 = ___________ = __________

(iv) 4 times 1 = ___________ = __________

(v) 2 times 5 = ___________ = __________

(vi) 3 times 3 = ___________ = __________

(vii) 6 times 4 = ___________ = __________

Answer:

2. (ii) 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 5 × 2

(iii) 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 7 × 3

(iv) 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 × 1

(v) 5 + 5 = 2 × 5

(vi) 3 + 3 + 3 = 3 × 3

(vii) 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 6 × 4

3. Write the multiplication facts. One has been done for you.

(i) 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 4 × 5

(ii) 3 + 3 = _____ × _____

(iii) 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = _____ × _____

(iv) 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = _____ × _____

(v) 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = _____ × _____

(vi) 1 + 1 + 1 = _____ × _____

(vii) 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = _____ × _____

Answer:

3. (ii) 2 × 3

(iii) 6 × 5

(iv) 5 × 4

(v) 6 × 2

(vi) 4 × 1

(vii) 8 × 3

4. Fill in to show that multiplication is repeated addition-

(i) 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = __________

6 × 5 = __________

(ii) 9 + 9 = __________

2 x 9 = __________

(iii) 10 + 10 + 10 = __________

3 × 10 = __________

(iv) 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = __________

5 × 2 = __________

(v) 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = __________

4 x 4 = __________

(vi) 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = __________

5 × 6 = __________

(vii) 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = __________

6 × 3 = __________

(viii) 7 + 7 + 7 = __________

3 × 7 = __________

(i)		2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = _____ 4 twos are _____
(ii)		4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = _____ 4 fours are _____
(iii)		3 + 3 + 3 = _____ 3 threes are _____
(iv)		5 + 5 2 fives are _____

PLAY Multiplication is Repeated Addition Quiz GAME:

🎯 Multiplication as Repeated Addition Quiz

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Worksheet on Multiplication as Repeated Addition:

FREE Printable PDF Download

I. Write the Multiplication Sentence

1. 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = _____

2. 5 + 5 + 5 = _____

3. 8 + 8 = _____

4. 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = _____

5. 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = _____

II. Write as Repeated Addition and Find the Sum

1. 2 × 6 = _____

2. 4 × 3 = _____

3. 5 × 2 = _____

4. 3 × 7 = _____

5. 6 × 4 = _____

III. Fill in the Blanks

1. 5 + 5 + 5 = ___ × ___ = ___

2. 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = ___ × ___ = ___

3. 9 + 9 = ___ × ___ = ___

4. 7 + 7 + 7 = ___ × ___ = ___

5. 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = ___ × ___ = ___

IV. Write the multiplication form of each of the following repeated additions. One has been done for you:

(a) 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 5 × 2 = 10

(b) 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = __ × __ = __

(d) 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = __ × __ = __

(e) 10 + 10 + 10 = __ × __ = __

(f) 4 + 4 + 4 = __ × __ = __

(g) 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = __ × __ = __

(h) 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = __ × __ = __

(i) 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = __ × __ = __

V. Word Problems

1. There are 3 boxes. Each box contains 4 pencils. How many pencils are there altogether?

2. A gardener plants 5 flowers in each row. There are 4 rows. How many flowers are planted?

3. There are 2 birds on each branch. If there are 6 branches, how many birds are there altogether?

4. A shopkeeper arranges 7 oranges in each basket. There are 3 baskets. How many oranges are there?

5. There are 8 chairs in each row. If there are 2 rows, how many chairs are there altogether?

Answer:

1. 4 × 3 = 12

2. 3 × 5 = 15

3. 2 × 8 = 16

4. 5 × 4 = 20

5. 4 × 7 = 28

II.

1. 6 + 6 = 12

2. 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12

3. 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10

4. 7 + 7 + 7 = 21

5. 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 24

III.

1. 3 × 5 = 15

2. 4 × 2 = 8

3. 2 × 9 = 18

4. 3 × 7 = 21

5. 5 × 4 = 20

IV.

(b) 7 × 9 = 63

(d) 10 × 8 = 80

(e) 3 × 10 = 30

(f) 3 × 4 = 12

(g) 9 × 6 = 54

(h) 8 × 1 = 8

(i) 7 × 3 = 21

1. 3 × 4 = 12 pencils

2. 4 × 5 = 20 flowers

3. 6 × 2 = 12 birds

4. 3 × 7 = 21 oranges

5. 2 × 8 = 16 chairs

FAQs on Multiplication is Repeated Addition:

1. What is repeated addition?

Answer:

Repeated addition means adding the same number several times. Multiplication is a faster way to write repeated addition.

2. Why is multiplication called repeated addition?

Answer:

Multiplication combines equal groups quickly.

For example, 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 can be written as 4 × 3.

3. Is multiplication always repeated addition?

Answer:

For whole numbers and equal groups, multiplication can be understood as repeated addition.

4. What is 5 groups of 2?

Answer:

5 groups of 2 means 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10 or 5 × 2 = 10.

About Author

Priyanka Ghosh, Founder of Math Only Math

Written by Priyanka Ghosh
Mathematics Educator | Founder of Math Only Math

Priyanka Ghosh has been teaching elementary and middle-school mathematics for over 12 years and specializes in creating simple, child-friendly math lessons and worksheets.