What is a Multiplier?
In a multiplication problem ab = c, the number b by which the multiplicand a is to be multiplied.
The multiplier is the number that tells how many groups you have in a multiplication problem. It shows how many times the multiplicand is being counted.
Let’s say we have 3 bowls on the table and each bowl has 4 apples. We can say that we have 3 groups (represented by bowls) of 4 apples, right?
We can count the apples one by one, or we can multiply the number of apples (4) in each group by the number of groups, i.e. bowls (3).
So, the multiplication problem is: 4 × 3 = 12.
In this case:
- 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 multiplier always represents how many groups there are, and it works together with the multiplicand (the number of items in each group) to find the total.
When Do Students Learn About the Multiplier?
Students begin learning the concept of the multiplier as part of early multiplication lessons, though they may not use the formal term at first. They quickly understand that one number in a multiplication equation tells how many groups there are.
While the term multiplier may be introduced, most students eventually use the more general term factor as they continue developing fluency.
Grades 2–3 – Introduction to Multiplication
Students begin using multiplication to count equal groups and understand how the multiplier relates to repeated addition, even if the term itself isn’t emphasized.
Grades 4–5 – Using Multiplication Vocabulary
Students may encounter terms like multiplier, multiplicand, and product as they solve more complex multiplication problems. By grade 5, however, it’s common for students to refer to both numbers in a multiplication equation simply as factors.
