Grade 4 Maths · Multi-digit multiplication

Minecraft Multiplication: Build with Partial Products

Break a big build into smaller rectangles, multiply each part, and add them up — the same way an area model splits a wall into blocks.

Section 1 · Area model

Split a rectangle into block regions

By the end of this section I can break a two-digit by two-digit product into four smaller areas and add them — so I can reason about any rectangular build without a calculator.

Success criteria 0 / 4 ticked

Tick each one when you can do it without help.

1A Two-digit × two-digit area model

A wall that is 23 blocks long and 14 blocks tall is just a rectangle. Split each side into tens and ones and you get four smaller rectangles — each one easy to multiply.

The four regions

tens × tenstens × onesones × tensones × ones

For 23 × 14, write 23 = 20 + 3 and 14 = 10 + 4. Each region holds one partial product.

Wall: 23 × 14

20 × 10 = 200 tens × tens
20 × 4 = 80 tens × ones
3 × 10 = 30 ones × tens
3 × 4 = 12 ones × ones
200 + 80 + 30 + 12 = 322 add the four partial products

Interactive · area model builder

23
14
322 blocks total

Check yourself

Use an area model for 31 × 12. Split 31 into 30 + 1 and 12 into 10 + 2. What is the total?

Find the four partial products: 30×10, 30×2, 1×10, 1×2 — then add.
30 × 10 = 300; 30 × 2 = 60; 1 × 10 = 10; 1 × 2 = 2. Total = 300 + 60 + 10 + 2 = 372.

A floor is 24 blocks by 13 blocks. Use an area model to find how many blocks fill it.

Split 24 into 20 + 4 and 13 into 10 + 3, then make four regions.
20 × 10 = 200; 20 × 3 = 60; 4 × 10 = 40; 4 × 3 = 12. Total = 200 + 60 + 40 + 12 = 312.

1B Two-digit × one-digit area model

A column of blocks only needs two regions: tens and ones. This is the simplest area model and a good warm-up for bigger walls.

Stack: 46 × 7

40 × 7 = 280 tens part
6 × 7 = 42 ones part
280 + 42 = 322 add the two partial products

Check yourself

A chest holds 53 stacks, and each stack has 8 items. Use a tens-and-ones area model to find the total.

Split 53 into 50 + 3, then multiply each part by 8.
50 × 8 = 400; 3 × 8 = 24. Total = 400 + 24 = 424.

A beacon gives a bonus for 34 blocks, each worth 9 points. How many points total?

Split 34 into 30 + 4, then multiply each by 9 and add.
30 × 9 = 270; 4 × 9 = 36. Total = 270 + 36 = 306.

Section 2 · Partial products

Write the method in equations

By the end of this section I can record partial products as equations and apply the method to Minecraft word problems.

Success criteria 0 / 3 ticked

Tick each one when you can do it without help.

2A Recording partial products

The area model shows the same four products as a list of equations. Writing them out keeps your work tidy and easy to check.

Build: 36 × 27

36 × 20 = 720 multiply by the tens of 27
36 × 7 = 252 multiply by the ones of 27
720 + 252 = 972 add the partial products

Check yourself

Use partial products to compute 42 × 18. Multiply 42 by the tens of 18, then by the ones, then add.

Split 18 into 10 + 8, then multiply 42 by each part.
42 × 10 = 420; 42 × 8 = 336. Total = 420 + 336 = 756.

Compute 35 × 26 using partial products.

Split 26 into 20 + 6, then multiply 35 by each part.
35 × 20 = 700; 35 × 6 = 210. Total = 700 + 210 = 910.

2B Minecraft word problems

Stacks, walls and floors all become multiplication. Read carefully, decide the two factors, then use partial products.

Stacks of blocks

13 stacks × 64 blocks = ? factors are 13 and 64
13 × 60 = 780 tens of 64
13 × 4 = 52 ones of 64
780 + 52 = 832 add the partial products

Check yourself

You have 24 stacks, each holding 64 blocks. How many blocks is that in total?

Split 64 into 60 + 4, then multiply 24 by each part.
24 × 60 = 1440; 24 × 4 = 96. Total = 1440 + 96 = 1536.

A wall is 16 blocks long and 12 blocks tall. How many blocks fill the wall?

Split 12 into 10 + 2, then multiply 16 by each part.
16 × 10 = 160; 16 × 2 = 32. Total = 160 + 32 = 192.

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