Reading multiplication as "times as many"
In 4th grade, children learn to read a multiplication fact like 35 = 5 × 7 as a comparison: 35 is 5 times as many as 7, and 7 times as many as 5.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 4th grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
A man is 6 feet tall. A giraffe is 3 times as tall as the man. Which equation finds g, the giraffe's height in feet?
- g = 3 × 6
- 6 = 3 × g
- g = 3 + 6
Why this matters
Your child already knows multiplication as equal groups, and this skill gives it a second meaning: comparing. Knowing that "5 times as many as 7" is 35 while "5 more than 7" is 12 helps them read story problems correctly and choose the right operation. Next year the idea grows into scaling, such as making a recipe three times as big, and later it supports ratios, percents, and reading the scale on a map.
Where kids can get stuck
- Hearing "5 times as many as 7" and answering 12, because they added 5 and 7 instead of multiplying.
- Reading 35 = 5 × 7 only as "5 groups of 7," without turning it into a sentence that compares two amounts.
- Getting the comparison backwards, as in "7 is 5 times as many as 35," with the smaller number in the larger one's place.
How you can help
- Compare family members' ages in the car. If your child is 8 and a grandparent is 72, ask how many times as old the grandparent is, then say the full sentence together: 72 is 9 times as many as 8.
- Line up coins on the kitchen table: 3 pennies in one row and 4 times as many in another row. Have your child count the second row and say the equation, 12 = 4 × 3, as a comparison.
- Turn a multiplication fact into two sentences at bedtime. Say 24 = 6 × 4 and ask your child for both comparisons: 24 is 6 times as many as 4, and 24 is 4 times as many as 6.
If it’s helpful, you can sign up for free, adaptive practice in Bobby's Math Club.
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning multiplication as a comparison this way?
Multiplication is used for more than counting equal groups. It also answers questions like "How many times bigger?" Reading 35 = 5 × 7 as "35 is 5 times as many as 7" gives your child a second way to think about the same fact. It also helps them tell apart two kinds of comparison that sound alike: "5 more than" means adding, while "5 times as many as" means multiplying.
What is the difference between "times as many" and "more than"?
"More than" compares by adding: 4 more than 6 is 10. "Times as many" compares by multiplying: 4 times as many as 6 is 24. Fourth graders often mix these up because both describe one amount being bigger than another. A helpful habit is to ask your child, "Is this saying how many extra, or how many times bigger?" Drawing the two amounts as bars of different lengths can also make the difference easier to see.
Does my child need to know their times tables for this?
Knowing the facts helps, because the comparison is built on them. But this skill is mainly about understanding what an equation says, not speed. A child who still counts by 5s to reach 35 can still learn that 35 is 5 times as many as 7. Practicing comparison sentences can even help the facts stick, since each fact now comes with a picture of two amounts side by side.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 4th grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Free, unlimited practice for every child in your family
- A few minutes a day, at just the right level
- You see their progress and what to work on next
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Ready to watch your child’s confidence grow?
Your 4th grade child can start today with free, unlimited practice that grows with them.
Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 4.OA.A.1: “Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison, e.g., interpret 35 = 5 × 7 as a statement that 35 is 5 times as many as 7 and 7 times as many as 5. Represent verbal statements of multiplicative comparisons as multiplication equations.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 4.OA.1)