The commutative law states that you can write the values of a calculation in a different order without changing the solution; the result is the same. It applies to addition and multiplication.

The associative law states that it doesn't matter how you group or pair values (i.e. which we calculate first), the result is still the same. It applies to addition and multiplication.

Explain the use of the commutative and associative laws when multiplying three or more numbers

Maths

Apply commutative and associative laws to simplify multiplications

Explain the reasons for changing two-factor multiplication calculations to three-factor calculations

Apply the commutative and associative laws to simplify volume calculations

Apply the commutative and associative laws to simplify problems in a range of contexts

In this unit pupils will explain the use of the commutative and associative laws when multiplying three or more numbers. In the future unit pupils will explain reasons for changing 2-factor multiplication calculations to 3-factor multiplications explaining what a factor is and how to use arrays and multiplication/division facts to find them. They will identify prime numbers and composite numbers.

 In the prior unit pupils explained volume using a range of contexts and described the units used to measure volume. They explained how to calculate the volume of a cuboid and explained what a cube number is. In this unit pupils will explain the use of the commutative and associative laws when multiplying three or more numbers.

In this unit pupils will explain the use of the commutative and associative laws to rearrange and simplify calculations when multiplying three or more numbers.

Multiply 3 or more numbers (commutative and associative laws)

Working efficiently means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.

An array is when items are arranged in rows and/or columns.

Factors are whole numbers which exactly divide another whole number.

To represent something is to show it in a different way.

The associative law states that it doesn't matter how you group or pair values (i.e. which we calculate first), the result is still the same. It applies for addition and multiplication.

The commutative law states that you can write the values of a calculation in a different order without changing the calculation; the result is the same. It applies for addition and multiplication.

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Multiply 3 or more numbers (commutative and associative laws)

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