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Overview
Grade 3 Math
Number
3. Apply estimation strategies to predict sums and differences of 1-, 2-, and 3-digit numerals
3.3 Multiplying with 3 Numbers Or More
Multiplying with 3 Numbers or More
Discover how to multiply three numbers or more by grouping factors two at a time, with clear steps and practice examples.
What You'll Learn
Recognize that multiplying three or more numbers means finding the product of all the factors together
Group any two factors first and multiply, then multiply that result by the remaining factor
Apply the associative property, since \( (a \times b) \times c = a \times (b \times c) \) for any factors
Apply the commutative property to reorder factors and pick an easier pair to multiply first
Choose the friendliest pair of numbers, like ones that make ten or a known times table fact, to multiply first
Check your answer by multiplying the same factors in a different order to see if the product matches
What You'll Practice
1
Multiplying three single-digit and multi-digit numbers
2
Computing products of four or more factors
3
Solving multiplication problems with strategic grouping
Why This Matters
Multiplying with three or more numbers builds mental math agility and prepares you for algebra, where you'll multiply variables and coefficients together. This skill appears constantly in area and volume calculations, probability, and real-world scenarios like calculating total costs with multiple quantities and prices.
This Unit Includes
1 Video lesson
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Multiplication
Associative Property
Multi-step Operations
Mental Math
Number Sense
NS Curriculum Aligned