Multiplication properties and patterns worksheets
Aligned with Common Core 3.OA.B.5
Printable third-grade worksheets on the rules that make multiplication easier: turn-around facts, breaking apart arrays, times 1 and times 0, and patterns in the times table.
The worksheets
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Multiplication Rules Chart
The turn-around, break-apart, grouping and times 1 and times 0 rules, each with an example.
Turn-Around Facts
Arrays turned on their side, written as a pair of turn-around facts.
Break Apart Arrays
Arrays split at a dashed line, like 6 × 7 = 6 × 5 + 6 × 2.
Zero and One
Facts with 0 and 1, including a few missing numbers, like ? × 1 = 7.
Times Table Patterns
Color the odd products in a times table, then answer questions about even and odd products, the 5s, 4s and 9s.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
A few rules make multiplication much easier. Turn-around facts have the same product (3 × 7 = 7 × 3). A hard fact can be broken into two easy ones (6 × 7 = 6 × 5 + 6 × 2). Any number times 1 is that number, and any number times 0 is 0. Children also look for patterns in the times table, like products of 5 always ending in 0 or 5.
What comes next
Division, where turn-around facts and fact families help children find quotients.
How to teach it
- Turn an array on its side and ask if the number of dots changed.
- Break hard facts into a 5s fact and a small fact. 7 × 8 is 5 × 8 plus 2 × 8.
- Use times 1 and times 0 stories. 4 plates with 0 cookies on each is 0 cookies.
- Color patterns on the times table and talk about what you see.
Common mistakes
- Thinking any number times 0 is that number, like 6 × 0 = 6.
- Breaking apart a fact but adding only one part back in.
- Thinking turn-around facts work for subtraction too. 7 − 3 is not 3 − 7.