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CBSE Class 3 Mathematics★ 6–8 marks · CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Math-Magic) Chapter 9

How Many Times?

Introduction to multiplication — repeated addition. Tables up to 10. Simple word problems with real-world contexts. CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Math-Magic) Chapter 9.

⏱ 10 min readMedium difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Understand multiplication as repeated addition: 5 × 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
2Memorize multiplication tables from 1 to 10 with fluency
3Solve simple multiplication problems using tables (e.g., 7 × 8 = 56)
4Apply multiplication to real-world problems: total legs, total wheels, total cost of multiple items
5Use the commutative property intuitively: 3 × 4 = 4 × 3 (order doesn't change the product)

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Why this chapter matters

Multiplication is the gateway to all higher mathematics — without it, division, fractions, area, and algebra are impossible. This chapter introduces multiplication as repeated addition (3 × 4 = 4 + 4 + 4), teaches tables from 1 to 10, and builds fluency through real-world contexts (legs of animals, wheels of vehicles, rows of objects). Mastering tables at this stage makes all future math faster and more confident.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 3 Mathematics Chapter 2: Fun with Numbers

Must be comfortable with skip counting — skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s is the bridge to multiplication tables.

How Many Times?

What is Multiplication?

MULTIPLICATION is a QUICK way to add the SAME number many times.

Addition way: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8 (adding 2 four times) Multiplication way: 4 × 2 = 8 (4 groups of 2)

Key Idea

Multiplication = Repeated Addition

When you have MANY groups with the SAME number of things in each group, use multiplication!

Repeated Addition

Example 1: How Many Legs?

1 dog has 4 legs. 2 dogs have 4 + 4 = 8 legs. 3 dogs have 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 legs. 4 dogs have 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16 legs.

Multiplication: 4 × 4 = 16 (4 dogs, each with 4 legs)

Example 2: How Many Wheels?

1 car has 4 wheels. 5 cars have 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 20 wheels.

Multiplication: 5 × 4 = 20

Example 3: How Many Chapatis?

You eat 2 chapatis for each meal. In 3 meals: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6 chapatis. Multiplication: 3 × 2 = 6

Practice

Repeated Addition	Multiplication	Answer
5 + 5 + 5	3 × 5	15
3 + 3 + 3 + 3	4 × 3	12
10 + 10 + 10	3 × 10	30
7 + 7	2 × 7	14
6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6	5 × 6	30

Multiplication Tables (1 to 10)

Table of 1

1 × 1 = 1, 2 × 1 = 2, 3 × 1 = 3, 4 × 1 = 4, 5 × 1 = 5 6 × 1 = 6, 7 × 1 = 7, 8 × 1 = 8, 9 × 1 = 9, 10 × 1 = 10

Table of 2

2 × 1 = 2, 2 × 2 = 4, 2 × 3 = 6, 2 × 4 = 8, 2 × 5 = 10 2 × 6 = 12, 2 × 7 = 14, 2 × 8 = 16, 2 × 9 = 18, 2 × 10 = 20

Table of 3

3 × 1 = 3, 3 × 2 = 6, 3 × 3 = 9, 3 × 4 = 12, 3 × 5 = 15 3 × 6 = 18, 3 × 7 = 21, 3 × 8 = 24, 3 × 9 = 27, 3 × 10 = 30

Table of 4

4 × 1 = 4, 4 × 2 = 8, 4 × 3 = 12, 4 × 4 = 16, 4 × 5 = 20 4 × 6 = 24, 4 × 7 = 28, 4 × 8 = 32, 4 × 9 = 36, 4 × 10 = 40

Table of 5

5 × 1 = 5, 5 × 2 = 10, 5 × 3 = 15, 5 × 4 = 20, 5 × 5 = 25 5 × 6 = 30, 5 × 7 = 35, 5 × 8 = 40, 5 × 9 = 45, 5 × 10 = 50

Table of 6

6 × 1 = 6, 6 × 2 = 12, 6 × 3 = 18, 6 × 4 = 24, 6 × 5 = 30 6 × 6 = 36, 6 × 7 = 42, 6 × 8 = 48, 6 × 9 = 54, 6 × 10 = 60

Table of 7

7 × 1 = 7, 7 × 2 = 14, 7 × 3 = 21, 7 × 4 = 28, 7 × 5 = 35 7 × 6 = 42, 7 × 7 = 49, 7 × 8 = 56, 7 × 9 = 63, 7 × 10 = 70

Table of 8

8 × 1 = 8, 8 × 2 = 16, 8 × 3 = 24, 8 × 4 = 32, 8 × 5 = 40 8 × 6 = 48, 8 × 7 = 56, 8 × 8 = 64, 8 × 9 = 72, 8 × 10 = 80

Table of 9

9 × 1 = 9, 9 × 2 = 18, 9 × 3 = 27, 9 × 4 = 36, 9 × 5 = 45 9 × 6 = 54, 9 × 7 = 63, 9 × 8 = 72, 9 × 9 = 81, 9 × 10 = 90

Table of 10

10 × 1 = 10, 10 × 2 = 20, 10 × 3 = 30, 10 × 4 = 40, 10 × 5 = 50 10 × 6 = 60, 10 × 7 = 70, 10 × 8 = 80, 10 × 9 = 90, 10 × 10 = 100

Multiplication Properties

Order Doesn't Matter

3 × 4 = 12 and 4 × 3 = 12 3 groups of 4 = 4 groups of 3

This is called the COMMUTATIVE property.

Multiplying by 1

Any number × 1 = the SAME number

5 × 1 = 5
100 × 1 = 100

Multiplying by 0

Any number × 0 = 0

5 × 0 = 0
100 × 0 = 0

Simple Word Problems

Problem 1: Biscuits

A packet has 4 biscuits. Riya buys 3 packets. How many biscuits in total?

Solution: 3 × 4 = 12 biscuits Check: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 ✓

Problem 2: Pencils in a Class

Each bench has 2 students. There are 15 benches. How many students?

Solution: 15 × 2 = 30 students Check: 2 + 2 + 2... (15 times) = 30 ✓

Problem 3: Fingers

How many fingers do 8 people have? (Each person has 10 fingers)

Solution: 8 × 10 = 80 fingers

Problem 4: Days in a Week

How many days in 5 weeks?

Solution: 5 × 7 = 35 days

Problem 5: Stickers

Amit has 6 pages of stickers. Each page has 9 stickers. How many stickers in total?

Solution: 6 × 9 = 54 stickers

Problem 6: Planting Trees

5 friends each plant 3 trees. How many trees in total?

Solution: 5 × 3 = 15 trees

Fun Multiplication Facts

9 Times Table Trick: For 9 × n, the digits of the answer always add up to 9!
- 9 × 3 = 27 → 2 + 7 = 9
- 9 × 6 = 54 → 5 + 4 = 9
- 9 × 8 = 72 → 7 + 2 = 9
10 Times Table: Just add a ZERO!
- 5 × 10 = 50
- 8 × 10 = 80
- 12 × 10 = 120
5 Times Table: Always ends in 0 or 5!
- 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30...

Common Mistakes

'3 + 3 + 3 = 3 × 3 × 3.' — No! 3 + 3 + 3 = 3 × 3. The × means 'groups of.' 3 × 3 means 3 groups of 3.
'Any number × 0 = the same number.' — No! Any number × 0 = 0. 10 × 0 = 0, not 10.
'7 × 3 = 24.' — No! 7 × 3 = 21. Practice your tables!
'Multiplication is harder than addition.' — Multiplication is FASTER than addition. Instead of adding 2 eight times (2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2), just do 8 × 2 = 16.
'4 × 3 means 4 + 3.' — No! 4 × 3 means 4 GROUPS of 3, which is 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12, NOT 4 + 3 = 7.

Quick Self-Test

Q1: Write 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 as a multiplication sentence. A1: 4 × 5 = 20.

Q2: What is 6 × 7? A2: 42.

Q3: There are 4 chairs at each table. How many chairs for 6 tables? A3: 6 × 4 = 24 chairs.

Q4: What is 9 × 0? A4: 0.

Q5: If one book costs ₹10, how much do 7 books cost? A5: 7 × 10 = ₹70.

Q6: Fill in the blank: 8 × ___ = 40 A6: 5 (because 8 × 5 = 40).

Q7: How many wheels on 6 bicycles? (Each bicycle has 2 wheels) A7: 6 × 2 = 12 wheels.

Q8: What is 12 × 10? A8: 120.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Multiplication as repeated addition

5 × 3 means '5 groups of 3' = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15. 4 × 2 means '4 groups of 2' = 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8. The first number = number of groups. The second number = how many in each group.

Draw groups of dots to visualize. 3 × 4: draw 3 circles, put 4 dots in each. Count total dots = 12.

Tables 1 to 10 (essential)

2×: 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20 · 3×: 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30 · 4×: 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40 · 5×: 5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50 · 10×: 10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100 · Others: learn through patterns and repetition

Tables are the 'vocabulary' of mathematics — memorize them. Start with 2, 5, and 10 tables (easiest), then 3 and 4.

Multiplication in real life

Total legs: number of animals × legs per animal (3 dogs = 3×4=12 legs) · Total wheels: vehicles × wheels each (5 cars = 5×4=20 wheels) · Total cost: items × price each (4 chocolates at ₹5 each = 4×5=₹20) · Rows × columns: a grid of objects

Multiplication is everywhere. Every time you count 'groups of the same size', it's multiplication.

Commutative property (order doesn't matter)

3 × 4 = 12 and 4 × 3 = 12. The PRODUCT (answer) is the SAME. Draw 3 rows of 4 dots vs 4 rows of 3 dots — both have 12 dots total.

This halves the number of table facts to memorize. If you know 7×3=21, you also know 3×7=21.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing 3 × 4 (3 groups of 4) with 4 × 3 (4 groups of 3) as 'different answers'

✓ Both give 12. The meaning is different (3 groups of 4 vs 4 groups of 3), but the PRODUCT is the same. This is the commutative property — order doesn't change the answer.

WATCH OUT

✗ Forgetting tables under pressure — mixing up 6×8=48 and 7×8=56

✓ Table facts need DAILY practice — 5 minutes every day. Use songs, rhymes, flash cards, and oral quizzing. Don't cram the night before.

WATCH OUT

✗ Adding instead of multiplying: 3 × 4, child writes 3 + 4 = 7

✓ Multiplication is repeated ADDITION of the SAME number. 3 × 4 means 4 + 4 + 4 (add 4 three times), NOT 3 + 4. Draw groups to clarify.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Repeated addition and tables

Write multiplication as repeated addition; fill in table grids; practice tables 1-10

Questions

Word problems

Total legs, total wheels, total cost, rows × columns; create your own multiplication stories

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Concept

Write 4 × 3 as repeated addition and find the answer.

▶ Show solution

4 × 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. (4 groups of 3.)

Q2EASY· Tables

What is 7 × 8?

▶ Show solution

7 × 8 = 56.

Q3EASY· Word Problem

One tricycle has 3 wheels. How many wheels do 6 tricycles have?

▶ Show solution

6 × 3 = 18 wheels. (6 tricycles, each with 3 wheels.)

Q4EASY· Money

One pencil costs ₹4. How much do 8 pencils cost?

▶ Show solution

8 × 4 = ₹32.

Q5MEDIUM· Apply

A classroom has 5 rows of desks. Each row has 6 desks. How many desks are there in total? Draw a picture to show your thinking.

▶ Show solution

5 × 6 = 30 desks. Drawing: 5 rows, each with 6 desks. Counting all desks = 30. You could also think 6 × 5 = 30 (commutative property).

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Multiplication = repeated addition. 4 × 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12
•First number = number of groups. Second number = how many in each group
•Tables 1-10 must be memorized. Start with 2, 5, 10 (easiest), then 3, 4, then 6-9
•The order doesn't change the answer: 3 × 4 = 4 × 3 = 12 (commutative property)
•Multiplication in daily life: total legs, total wheels, total cost, rows × columns
•Multiplication makes adding the same number many times FASTER — that's its superpower

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6–8 marks in Class 3 Mathematics assessment

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Direct multiplication / Fill tables (1 mark each)	1	3–4	Table facts (1-10); writing as repeated addition; filling missing numbers in table grids
Word problem (2 marks each)	2	2	Total legs/wheels/cost; rows × columns; real-world multiplication scenarios

Prep strategy

Tables are EVERYTHING. Practice daily: 5 minutes of oral quiz — '6×7? 8×4? 9×3?' — make it a game
Use table charts on the wall — children absorb passively by seeing them daily
Sing tables to tunes: 2× table to 'Twinkle Twinkle', 3× to 'Happy Birthday' — rhythm aids memory
Real-life multiplication: 'We have 4 family members. Each eats 2 rotis. How many rotis to make?'
Draw groups: for 3×4, draw 3 circles with 4 dots each. Visual = understanding beyond memorization

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