Year 8: Multiplication Laws

What are Multiplication Laws?

Multiplication laws are rules that make calculations with multiplication easier and faster. They're like shortcuts!

This law says you can group numbers when multiplying and still get the same answer.

(a x b) x c = a x (b x c)

Example: (2 x 3) x 4 = 2 x (3 x 4) = 24

This law says that the order of the numbers doesn’t change the answer.

a x b = b x a

Example: 2 x 5 = 5 x 2 = 10

This law is used when multiplying a number by a sum.

a x (b + c) = (a x b) + (a x c)

Example: 2 x (3 + 4) = (2 x 3) + (2 x 4) = 6 + 8 = 14

Use these laws to simplify your calculations. Don't forget to practice!