Equal Groups

Let's see what's really going on when we multiply two numbers.

2x3=

This means that you have two groups of 3!

6 triangles split into 2 sets of 3 triangles

Put the two groups together...  How many triangles do you have?

6 triangles

Count them...  One, two, three, four, five, six!

So, our answer is:

2x3=6

Let's do another one!  This one has the numbers switched around.

3x2=

This means that you have three groups of 2!

6 squares split into 3 sets of 2 squares

Put the three groups together...  How many squares do you have?

6 squares

Count them...  One, two, three, four, five, six!

So, our answer is:

3x2=6

Hey, that's the same answer we got with 2 x 3!  But, we put the six together a different way.  Look at them both again to see the difference!
1 2 3 4
of 4