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Understanding multiples can help you find patterns, solve equations and strengthen your multiplication and division skills!
Author
Katie Wickliff
Published
November 8, 2023
Understanding multiples can help you find patterns, solve equations and strengthen your multiplication and division skills!
Author
Katie Wickliff
Published
Nov 8, 2023
Understanding multiples can help you find patterns, solve equations and strengthen your multiplication and division skills!
Author
Katie Wickliff
Published
Nov 8, 2023
Key takeaways
Table of contents
Understanding the concept of multiples is key to mastering multiplication. In this article, we’ll explain what multiples are and provide examples of the multiples of 3 through 12. Let’s get started!
In maths, multiples are the numbers you get when you multiply other numbers together.
For example, when we multiply 2×5, our answer (also called the product) is 10. So, 10 is a multiple of 2 and also a multiple of 5.
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Below are the first several multiples of numbers. As we know, many numbers have an infinite number of multiples.
Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33
Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44
Multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55
Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66
Multiples of 7: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77
Multiples of 8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88
Multiples of 9: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, 99
Multiples of 10: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110
Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 120
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Common multiples are the multiples that two or more numbers share. When working with fractions, a student will often need to know common multiples and be able to find the least common multiple. For example, let’s look at the multiples of numbers 3 and 9.
Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33
Multiples of 9: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, 99
The multiples that both 3 and 9 have in common are: 9, 18, and 27. Note: 3 and 9 have more common multiples, but these are the first few.
Now that you understand multiples, demonstrate your knowledge by completing these five problems. For even more practice, head over to DoodleLearning’s award-winning maths app. Scroll down the page for the answers!
The first three multiples of the number 9 are:
I am the least common multiple of the numbers 6 and 12. What number am I?
Fill in the blanks with the first five multiples of the number 4.
4, ____, ____, _____, _____, ____
The number of stuffed animals in Ella’s collection is a 2-digit number that is divisible by 6 and a multiple of 4. She has less than 30 stuffed animals but more than 15 in her collection. How many stuffed animals does Ella have? Show your thinking.
Which of the following numbers is not a common multiple of 8 and 10? Circle all that apply.
D
12
8, 12, 16, 20, 24
24
Show your thinking:
First, list out the multiples of 4 that are less than 30: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28
Next, find the multiples that are divisible by 6: 12, 24
If Ella has more than 15 animals in her collection, the answer must be 24.
A, C are not common multiples of both 8 and 10
A multiple is the number you get when you multiply other numbers together.
The least common multiple is the smallest multiple two (or more) numbers have in common. For example, to find the least common multiple of 4 and 6, you’d compare their multiples:
Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20….
Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30….
The smallest number both 4 and 6 have in common is 12, so 12 is the least common multiple.
Factors and multiples are closely related: factors are the numbers that can be multiplied together. A multiple is the product of multiplying factors together.
Lesson credits
Katie Wickliff
Katie holds a master’s degree in Education and a bachelor’s degree in both Journalism and English. She has over 15 years of education experience and tutor. Most importantly, Katie is the mother of two students, ages 8 and 11. She is passionate about education and firmly believes that the right tools and support will help every student reach their full potential.
Katie Wickliff
Katie holds a master’s degree in Education and a bachelor’s degree in both Journalism and English. She has over 15 years of education experience and tutor. Most importantly, Katie is the mother of two students, ages 8 and 11. She is passionate about education and firmly believes that the right tools and support will help every student reach their full potential.
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