2-Digit by 2-Digit Multiplication
20 problems on two pages, each a two-digit number times a two-digit number, stacked in columns. Products range from the hundreds to over 5,000. It fits 4th graders learning partial products and 5th graders moving to the standard algorithm.
Worksheet Preview
Two rows, then add
For 87 × 24, multiply 87 by the 4 first to get 348. Then multiply 87 by the 2, which really means 20, so the second row is 1740. Adding the two rows gives 2088.
The zero at the end of the second row is where most wrong answers start. Students who leave it out add 348 + 174 and get 522. Have them write the 0 before they multiply anything else on that row.
An estimate catches the slip: 87 × 24 is close to 90 × 20, or 1,800, so 2088 is reasonable and 522 isn't. The multi-digit multiplication guide also shows the area model, which helps students who lose track of place value.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are partial products?
The answers you get by multiplying the top number by each digit of the bottom number. In 70 × 79, 70 × 9 = 630 and 70 × 70 = 4900. Add them and you get 5530.
What grade learns 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication?
4th grade, usually with area models or partial products. 5th graders move to the standard algorithm and are expected to use it fluently by the end of the year.
My student knows the steps but still gets wrong answers. Why?
Usually it's a times table fact or a carried digit, not the method. Check the first row of a wrong answer. If 87 × 4 didn't come out to 348, the facts need work before the algorithm will.