What is a Multiplicand?
In a multiplication problem ab = c, the number a that is to be multiplied by the multiplier, b.
The multiplicand is the number that is being multiplied in a multiplication problem. It tells us how many items are in each group before they are multiplied by the number of groups.
For example, imagine you have 3 bowls, and each bowl has 4 apples. That is 4 items (apples) in 3 groups (bowls).
We can write this as a multiplication problem where the apples are the multiplicand and the bowls are the multiplier, like so: 4 × 3 = 12.
So, to recap:
- 4 is the multiplicand, the number of apples in each bowl
- 3 is the multiplier, the number of bowls
- 12 is the product, the total number of apples
The multiplicand always represents the number in each group, while the multiplier tells us how many groups we have.
Understanding the role of the multiplicand helps students visualize multiplication not just as repeated addition, but as building a total from equal-sized groups.
When Do Students Learn About the Multiplicand?
Students are introduced to the concept of the multiplicand early in their multiplication journey, although they may not use the formal term right away. As they develop fluency with multiplication, they begin to understand the roles each number plays in an equation.
While terms like multiplicand and multiplier may be introduced, students commonly refer to both as factors by the time they reach upper elementary grades.
Grades 2–3 – Introduction to Multiplication
Students begin learning the structure of multiplication equations and understand how many items are in each group (the multiplicand), even if they don’t use the term explicitly.
Grades 4–5 – Developing Vocabulary and Fluency
Students may be introduced to vocabulary like multiplicand, multiplier, and product while solving multi-digit multiplication problems. However, by grade 5, they typically use the more familiar term factors to describe the numbers being multiplied.
