Skill: Interpret multiplication as an array

An array is a rectangle made of equal rows or equal columns.

To read an array:

1. Count the number of rows.
2. Count how many objects are in each row.
3. Write a multiplication equation.
4. Count the total number of objects.

Example: A garden has 3 rows of 4 flowers.

Draw the array:

$$\begin{array}{cccc} 🌸 & 🌸 & 🌸 & 🌸 \\ 🌸 & 🌸 & 🌸 & 🌸 \\ 🌸 & 🌸 & 🌸 & 🌸 \end{array}$$

• There are $3$ rows.
• There are $4$ flowers in each row.
• So the multiplication equation is

$$3 \times 4 = 12$$

There are 12 flowers altogether.

If you turn the array, it has 4 rows of 3 flowers:

$$4 \times 3 = 12$$

The total stays the same. This shows that the order of the factors can change:

$$3 \times 4 = 4 \times 3$$