What is a Multiplicand?

S0-SA1-1409

Grade Level:

Pre-School – Class 2

All domains without exception

Definition

What is it?

The multiplicand is the number that is being multiplied in a multiplication problem. It tells you 'what' quantity is being repeated. Think of it as the main item you are counting multiple times.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you have 3 boxes of ladoos, and each box has 5 ladoos. Here, the '5 ladoos' is the quantity being repeated in each box. So, 5 is the multiplicand.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the multiplicand in the problem: 'How many apples are there in 4 baskets if each basket has 6 apples?'

1. First, identify what we are trying to find: the total number of apples.
---2. Next, identify the quantity that is being repeated. Each basket has '6 apples'. This is the quantity that appears multiple times.
---3. Identify how many times this quantity is repeated. There are '4 baskets', so the 6 apples are repeated 4 times.
---4. Write this as a multiplication problem: 6 apples * 4 baskets.
---5. In this problem, 6 is the number being multiplied. So, 6 is the multiplicand.

Answer: The multiplicand is 6.

Why It Matters

Understanding the multiplicand helps you set up multiplication problems correctly, especially in word problems. This skill is crucial for careers like a shopkeeper calculating total sales, an engineer designing structures, or even a chef scaling a recipe for a bigger party.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Confusing the multiplicand with the multiplier. | CORRECTION: The multiplicand is the number being multiplied (the 'what'), while the multiplier is how many times it is multiplied (the 'how many times').

MISTAKE: Thinking the multiplicand is always the bigger number. | CORRECTION: The multiplicand can be smaller than the multiplier. For example, in 3 x 5, if we think of 3 being repeated 5 times, then 3 is the multiplicand.

MISTAKE: Not being able to identify the multiplicand in a word problem. | CORRECTION: Look for the quantity that is present in 'each' group or 'each' item. That 'each' quantity is usually your multiplicand.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: In the problem 7 x 3 = 21, what is the multiplicand? | ANSWER: 7

QUESTION: A auto-rickshaw driver travels 15 km each day. If he travels for 5 days, what is the multiplicand in the calculation for total distance? | ANSWER: 15 km

QUESTION: Your friend has 4 packets of stickers. Each packet has 12 stickers. Write the multiplication problem and identify the multiplicand. | ANSWER: 12 x 4 = 48. The multiplicand is 12.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which number is the multiplicand in the problem: 'There are 8 students, and each student has 2 pencils. How many pencils in total?'

None of the above

The Correct Answer Is:

The quantity being repeated is '2 pencils' for each student. So, 2 is the multiplicand. 8 is the multiplier, and 16 is the product.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you buy a mobile data pack, say 2 GB per day for 7 days, the '2 GB' is the multiplicand because that's the quantity of data you get each day. You multiply it by 7 days to find your total data. Similarly, in a grocery store, if one packet of biscuits costs ₹10 and you buy 5 packets, ₹10 is the multiplicand.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

MULTIPLICATION: A mathematical operation where a number is added to itself a number of times. | MULTIPLIER: The number that tells you how many times the multiplicand is repeated. | PRODUCT: The answer to a multiplication problem. | FACTOR: Numbers that are multiplied together to get a product (both multiplicand and multiplier are factors).

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand the multiplicand, you should learn about the 'Multiplier'. It's the other important number in a multiplication problem and helps you complete your understanding of how multiplication works!