Word
Prediction
Definition
Picture
Sentence or Example
array
a set of numbers or objects
that follow a specific
pattern, a matrix or
rectangle
by
When reading the dimensions
of an array, “by” refers to
the number of rows against
the number of columns.
column
vertical section of an array
There are 3 columns in this array.
Commutative
Property
factors in a multiplication
sentence can switch places
and you will get the same
product
2x3=6 and 3x2=6 shows the commutative
property because even though the factors
are reversed, the product is the same.
equal groups
one factor is the number of
objects in a group
There are 4 equal groups of 15.
The egg carton shows a 2 by 6 array.
2
3
The soda cans are in a 2 by 3 array.
and the other is a multiplier
that indicates the number of
groups
equation
a statement that 2
expressions are equal
distribute
with reference to the
Distributive Property; e.g. In
12 × 3 = (10 × 3) + (2
× 3) the 3 is multiplier
for each part of the
decomposition;
multiply smaller chunks of
the multiplication problem
to make it easier
2 times 7 is the same as 2 times 3 plus 2
times 4. You can break 7 into an addition
problem with smaller numbers and distribute
the multiplier to the smaller parts.
divide/division
partitioning a total into
equal groups to show how
many equal groups add up to
a specific
number.
Kid language: break a
number apart into
equal-sized groups
The picture shows 12 flowers divided into 4
equal groups of 3.
3×4=
12
The equation shows that 3 groups of 4 is
equal to 12.
fact
used to refer to
multiplication facts
A multiplication fact is an equation.
factors
numbers that are multiplied
to obtain a product
The numbers 2 and 3 are factors of 6
because you multiply 2 times 3 to get the
answer 6.
multiplication
/multiply
an operation showing how
many times a number is
added to itself
Instead of adding 4 over and over again, you
can multiply the number of groups that you
have.
number of
groups
factor in a multiplication
problem that refers to the
total equal groups
Number of groups means how many total
groups you have, not the amount in each
group.
parentheses
( ) used around a fact or
numbers within an equation
Parentheses are used to show a number or
group of numbers in a number sentence.
product
the answer to a
multiplication problem
When you multiply numbers together, the
answer you get is called the product.
quotient
the answer when one number
is divided by another
The answer to any division problem is called
the quotient.
rotate
turn, used with reference to
turning arrays 90 degrees
When you rotate something, you turn it.
row
in reference to rectangular
arrays; the horizontal part
of the array
There are two rows in this array.
size of groups
factor in a multiplication
problem that refers to how
many in a group
Size of groups means how many you have in
each group, not your total number of
groups.
unit
one segment of a
partitioned tape diagram
(in the picture, 3 refers to
the unit)
On the diagram, one unit refers to one
group.
unknown
the “missing” factor or
quantity in multiplication or
division
A missing number in an equation is called an
unknown.