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Watch: Multiplication using the scaling model

Watch this video to understand multiplication using the scaling model.

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What is scaling?

Scaling is when you are given information about something and then have to apply it to a smaller or larger quantity.

You use it in everyday life, but probably don’t realise it.

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Example 1

A cupcake

You are having a party with 30 people and you want everyone to have a cupcake.

Cupcakes are only sold in packets of 10. What do you do?

You could apply your knowledge of the 10 times table:

3 x 10 = 30

You need 3 packets of cupcakes to have enough for 30 people.

A cupcake
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Example 2

Ellie and Bobby were at the park. Ellie saw 5 flowers but Bobby saw 5 times as many. How many flowers did Bobby see?

You can use a bar model to help you:

The bar model now clearly shows how many flowers each child saw. Ellie saw 5 and Bobby saw 5 times as many, or 5 lots of 5.

5 x 5 = 25

Bobby saw 25 flowers.

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Example 3

Meera is having 7 friends over for a party. She wants to make a cake. Including herself 8 people will be eating the cake. What ingredients does she need?

She finds a recipe for 4 people:

  • 200 g of butter
  • 250 g of sugar
  • 300 g of flour
  • 2 eggs

8 people is double 4 people. Meera needs to multiply the ingredients by a scale of 2.

200 x 2 = 400 g of butter

250 x 2 = 500 g of sugar

300 x 2 = 600 g of flour

2 x 2 = 4 eggs

The party is a huge success and Meera wants to have another party the following week.

This time 16 people will need cake. 16 is 4 x 4.

Meera will need to multiply the recipe by a scale of 4.

200 x 4 = 800 g of butter

250 x 4 = 1000 g of sugar

300 x 4 = 1200 g of flour

2 x 4 = 8 eggs

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Activity

Quiz

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More on Multiplying and dividing

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