As you may have read in the parent letter for Chapter 2 in Think Math, Room 221 is learning about multiplication. Think Math teaches multiplication in a way that is new to me, so I thought it might also be new to you.
The third graders are taught to look at the number of vertical lines, the number of horizontal lines and the intersections that happen when the lines meet. The vertical lines represent one factor, the horizontal lines represent the second factor and the intersections represent the product.
For example, if you take 3 vertical lines and line them up with 2 horizontal lines, you will make 6 intersections.
| | | (3 vertical lines) __ __ (2 vertical lines)
For the intersections, please see the image above.
The matching multiplication sentence will be:
3 x 2 = 6 - factor x factor = product
Ask your mathematician how many intersections there would be if you had 5 vertical lines and 4 horizontal lines!
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