Multiplication — Grade 3 Mathematics

In Grade 3, we aim to know all times tables up to 12 × 12 by heart, and use the grid method to multiply 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers. We also explore multiplying by 10 and 100.

Times Tables up to 12 × 12

The grid below shows all products up to 12 × 12. Spot the square numbers (1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144) on the diagonal.

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144

The Grid Method (Partitioning)

To multiply a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number:
1. Partition the 2-digit number into tens and ones.
2. Multiply each part separately.
3. Add the two partial products.

Example: 47 × 6

240

240 + 42 = 282

Worked Examples

Example 1 — Grid Method

Calculate 63 × 8 using the grid method.

480

60 × 8 = 480
3 × 8 = 24
480 + 24 = 504

Example 2 — Multiplying by 10 and 100

Find: (a) 36 × 10 (b) 36 × 100

× 10: shift all digits one place left → 36 × 10 = 360
× 100: shift all digits two places left → 36 × 100 = 3 600
The rule: multiplying by 10 adds a zero; by 100 adds two zeros.

Example 3 — Real World: Egg Cartons 🥚

A factory packs 48 eggs into each crate. It fills 9 crates. How many eggs total?

360

360 + 72 = 432 eggs

Practice Questions

1. What is 7 × 9?

✅ 63

2. Use the grid method: 52 × 7

✅ (50 × 7) + (2 × 7) = 350 + 14 = 364

3. What is 75 × 10?

✅ 750

4. A box holds 36 chocolates. How many chocolates in 8 boxes?

✅ 36 × 8 = (30×8)+(6×8) = 240+48 = 288 chocolates

5. What is 12 × 12?

✅ 144 — the last entry in the times table grid!

Key Points to Remember

Aim to know all times tables up to 12 × 12 by heart.
Grid method: partition → multiply each part → add.
Multiplying by 10 → add one zero; by 100 → add two zeros.
Multiplication is commutative: 6 × 7 = 7 × 6 = 42.
Use known facts to derive harder ones: 8 × 7 = 8 × 5 + 8 × 2 = 40 + 16 = 56.

◀ Previous: Numbers Ordering Next: Division ▶

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144

×	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144