Year 2: The signs ×, ÷ and =
Part of the Year 2 multiplying and dividing chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The signs ×, ÷ and =
We can write equal groups as a sum with signs. The sign × means groups of. The sign ÷ means share into equal groups. The sign = means is the same as.
Look at 3 groups of 2 apples. Three groups of 2 is written 3 × 2 = 6.
Sharing 6 apples into 3 equal groups gives 2 in each group. This is written 6 ÷ 3 = 2.
Key ideas
- × means groups of, or lots of.
- ÷ means share into equal groups.
- = means the same as.
- Read a sum from left to right.
Method. Write the groups as a sum with the sign ×, then work out the total.
- Read the groups. There are 4 groups of 2.4 groups of 2
- Write it with the sign ×. The sign × means groups of.4 × 2
- Work out the total. Add 2, 4 times.4 × 2 = 8
Check. 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8. ✓
Watch out. The first number says how many groups. The second says how many in each group.
Method. Write the sharing as a sum with the sign ÷.
- Share the things equally. Put 10 things into 2 equal groups.10 shared into 2 groups
- Count what is in one group. Each group has 5.5 in each group
- Write it with the sign ÷. The sign ÷ means share into equal groups.10 ÷ 2 = 5
Check. Add 5, 2 times: 5 + 5 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The number being shared comes first. The number of groups comes second.
Method. Work out what the sum means, then choose the sign.
- Read the sum. 3 and 4 have a sign missing.3 ? 4 = 12
- Think what the sign means. 3 groups of 4 make 12.3 × 4 = 12
- Write the sign. The sign × means groups of.×
Check. 3 × 4 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Groups of is ×. Share into groups is ÷.
Watch out
Watch out: 6 ÷ 3 is not 3 ÷ 6. The number being shared always comes first.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Put out 3 plates with 2 buttons on each. Ask: “How many buttons altogether?” Then write the sum together: 3 × 2 = 6.
Exercise 3C The signs ×, ÷ and =
Non-calculatorMethod. Work out what the sum means, then choose the sign.
- Read the sum. 2 and 6 have a sign missing.2 ? 6 = 12
- Think what the sign means. 2 groups of 6 make 12.2 × 6 = 12
- Write the sign. The sign × means groups of.×
Check. 2 × 6 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Groups of is ×. Share into groups is ÷.
Method. Work out what the sum means, then choose the sign.
- Read the sum. 12 and 3 have a sign missing.12 ? 3 = 4
- Think what the sign means. Share 12 into 3 equal groups: 4 in each group.12 ÷ 3 = 4
- Write the sign. The sign ÷ means share into equal groups.÷
Check. 12 ÷ 3 = 4. ✓
Watch out. Groups of is ×. Share into groups is ÷.
Method. Write the groups as a sum with the sign ×, then work out the total.
- Read the groups. There are 5 groups of 2.5 groups of 2
- Write it with the sign ×. The sign × means groups of.5 × 2
- Work out the total. Add 2, 5 times.5 × 2 = 10
Check. 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The first number says how many groups. The second says how many in each group.
Method. Write the sharing as a sum with the sign ÷.
- Share the things equally. Put 8 things into 4 equal groups.8 shared into 4 groups
- Count what is in one group. Each group has 2.2 in each group
- Write it with the sign ÷. The sign ÷ means share into equal groups.8 ÷ 4 = 2
Check. Add 2, 4 times: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8. ✓
Watch out. The number being shared comes first. The number of groups comes second.
Key words. Equal groups have the same number of things in each group.
Method. Add the same number once for each group. Count the groups first.
- Look at one group. Each group has 7 cups.7 in one group
- Add the same number once for each group. There are 3 groups, so add 7 3 times.7 + 7 + 7
- Write the total. The total is 21 cups.21
Check. Count in 7s: 7, 14, 21. ✓
Watch out. Count the groups first. Then add one number for each group.
Method. Make groups of the same size, then count how many groups there are.
- Make groups of the same size. Put 2 socks in each group.2 in each group
- Count the groups. Keep making groups until none are left. There are 7 groups.7 groups
- Write the answer. 14 ÷ 2 means how many groups of 2.7
Check. Count in 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. ✓
Watch out. Count the groups, not the things in each group.
Method. Write the groups as a sum with the sign ×, then work out the total.
- Read the groups. There are 3 groups of 4.3 groups of 4
- Write it with the sign ×. The sign × means groups of.3 × 4
- Work out the total. Add 4, 3 times.3 × 4 = 12
Check. 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. ✓
Watch out. The first number says how many groups. The second says how many in each group.
Method. Write the sharing as a sum with the sign ÷.
- Share the things equally. Put 12 things into 4 equal groups.12 shared into 4 groups
- Count what is in one group. Each group has 3.3 in each group
- Write it with the sign ÷. The sign ÷ means share into equal groups.12 ÷ 4 = 3
Check. Add 3, 4 times: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. ✓
Watch out. The number being shared comes first. The number of groups comes second.
Method. Write the sharing as a sum with the sign ÷.
- Share the things equally. Put 12 things into 3 equal groups.12 shared into 3 groups
- Count what is in one group. Each group has 4.4 in each group
- Write it with the sign ÷. The sign ÷ means share into equal groups.12 ÷ 3 = 4
Check. Add 4, 3 times: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. ✓
Watch out. The number being shared comes first. The number of groups comes second.
Method. Work out the total, then compare it with the claim.
- Work out the total. 3 groups of 5: add 5 3 times.5 + 5 + 5 = 15
- Compare with the claim. The claim says 8. The total is 15.8 ≠ 15
- Write the answer. The claim is right only if the two numbers match.No. 3 × 5 = 15
Check. Count in 5s: 5, 10, 15. ✓
Watch out. Add the same number once for each group. Do not stop early.
Method. Share 3 into 3 equal groups. Then compare with Jo.
- Share 3 into 3 groups. Each group gets 1.3 ÷ 3 = 1
- Compare with Jo. Jo says the answer is 9. But 3 ÷ 3 is 1.9 ≠ 1
- Write the answer. Jo is wrong.No. 3 ÷ 3 = 1, not 9.
Check. Three groups of 1 make 3. ✓
Watch out. Check each side of the sign separately.