Multiplying a multi-digit number by a single digit using the short multiplication method.
Where your child meets this in real life: Calculating costs (e.g., 6 items at £47 each), or finding totals of repeated quantities
SEAGReady breaks short multiplication into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Multiply a multi-digit number by a single digit without carrying (e.g., 312 x 3)
Multiply a multi-digit number by a single digit with carrying (e.g., 47 x 6 or 478 x 6)
Three free sample questions from our short multiplication course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
A teacher orders pencils for her class. Each table needs 213 pencils and there are 3 tables. How many pencils does she need altogether?
Answer: A. 639 pencils
Set up short multiplication: 213 x 3 ------ Ones: 3 x 3 = 9 Tens: 1 x 3 = 3 Hundreds: 2 x 3 = 6 Answer: 639 pencils
Stuck? Start here: Set up the short multiplication with 213 on top and x 3 below.
Roisin is buying 6 boxes of markers. Each box costs 38 pounds. What is the total cost?
Answer: A. 228 pounds
Set up short multiplication: 38 x 6 ----- Ones: 8 x 6 = 48 (write 8, carry 4) Tens: 3 x 6 = 18, plus carried 4 = 22 Answer: 228 pounds
Stuck? Start here: Set up 38 x 6 using short multiplication.
Oisin's school has 4 classes. Each class has 122 books on their reading shelf. How many books are there in total?
Answer: B. 488 books
Set up short multiplication: 122 x 4 ------ Ones: 2 x 4 = 8 Tens: 2 x 4 = 8 Hundreds: 1 x 4 = 4 Answer: 488 books
Stuck? Start here: This is a multiplication problem: 122 x 4
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Caitlin is ordering pencils for her class. Each table needs 312 pencils and there are 3 tables.
How many pencils does she need altogether?
312 × 3
Step 1 of 4
Caitlin is ordering pencils for her class. Each table needs 312 pencils and there are 3 tables.
How many pencils does she need altogether?
Caitlin needs 936 pencils altogether.
The key insight: Multiply each column separately - it's just times tables in disguise!
Watch out: 312 × 3 = 96 (only multiplying tens and ones). You must multiply ALL columns, including the hundreds digit.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in short multiplication, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with short multiplication? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.