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7.3

Activity

Standards Alignment

Building On

Addressing

Building Toward

Instructional Routines

None

Materials

To Gather

Activity Narrative

In this activity, students find the product of two decimals using an area diagram, and they analyze two ways to multiply the same pair of decimals numerically, making connections between the strategies along the way. Then they apply the strategies to multiply another pair of decimals.

The key ideas here are:

We can find products of decimals by decomposing the factors by place value, finding partial products, and adding them, just as we have done when multiplying whole numbers.
We can represent the multiplication and the partial products using a diagram or with numerical calculations.

In an upcoming lesson, students will generalize the process and use the algorithm to compute products of decimals.

In the digital version of the activity, students can use an applet to represent multiplication of two decimals with an area diagram and to check their calculations. The applet allows students to specify the factors by place value, represent the ones and tenths as side lengths of a rectangle, and see the area of the rectangle decomposed accordingly. It also displays the corresponding partial products and final product. The digital version may be helpful for students to verify their work and to better visualize the structure of multiplication by place value.

If students don't have individual access, displaying the applet for all to see would be helpful during the synthesis.

Activity Synthesis

The goal of the discussion is to highlight the connections between an area diagram, which can help us visualize partial products, and numerical calculations, which can help us record partial products concisely and calculate more efficiently.

Display the diagram and calculations for for all to see.

<p>Rectangle with dimensions provided.</p>

Ask questions such as:

“What do you notice about the labels of side lengths?” (Each one is decomposed into a whole number and a decimal, or ones and tenths.)
“In the diagram, what do the numbers in each sub-rectangle represent?” (The area of the sub-rectangle) “How do we find them?” (Multiply the length and width of each sub-rectangle.)
“In Calculation A, what do 0.12, 0.6, 0.4, and 2 represent?” (Partial products, or the areas of those sub-rectangles)
“If we didn’t draw a diagram, how could we find those partial products?” (We can multiply each digit in one factor by each digit in the other factor, keeping in mind the place value of each digit.)

Consider annotating each partial product in Calculation A with its factors:

Alternatively, consider separating each step and using color coding to show the digits being multiplied, as shown here:

7.4

Activity

Optional

Standards Alignment

Building On

Addressing

Building Toward

Instructional Routines

None

Materials

None

Activity Narrative

This activity gives students another opportunity to use partial products to multiply decimals and to connect area diagrams and vertical calculations. More attention is given to how to record the partial products more concisely (as shown in Calculation B in this activity and earlier ones), paving the way to multiplying decimals using the standard algorithm.

In these problems, the side lengths and areas of the rectangle are left blank. Students fill in these fields by decomposing the factors by place value and multiplying them. Like many of the activities in this unit, the work involves understanding the structure of the base-ten system used in multiplication calculations (MP7) and making sense of it from arithmetic and geometric perspectives.

Students also make another key connection about several previously developed ideas here. They see that we can write the non-zero digits of decimal factors as whole numbers, use vertical calculations to multiply them, and then attend to the decimal point in the product afterward. In other words, they notice the algorithm for multiplication can streamline the reasoning processes that they have used up to this point.

Launch

Keep students in groups of 2. Give groups 1–2 minutes to make sense of the first set of questions and the area diagram.

Before students begin labeling and computing, discuss questions such as:

“How might you decompose each factor?”
“How would you decide what number to use for each part of a side length?”
“How would you know what value to record for the regions A, B, C, and D?”

If students propose decomposing each factor or side length in ways other than by place value, consider using an example to discuss the practicality of doing so. (For instance, suppose 2.5 is decomposed into 1.5 and 1, and 1.2 is decomposed into 0.7 and 0.5, what computations would give us the values of A, B, C, and D?)

Give students 3–4 minutes of quiet work time and then time to share their responses with their partner. Follow with a whole-class discussion.

Activity

None

Label the area diagram to represent and to find that product.
1. Decompose each factor by place value and write the ones and tenths in the blank boxes.
2. Label Regions A, B, C, and D with their areas. Show your reasoning.
3. Find the product that the area diagram represents. Show your reasoning.
Here are two ways to calculate . Each number with a box gives the area of one or more regions in the area diagram.

Two vertical calculations of 2 point 5 times 1 point 2. Calculation A, 7 rows. First row: 2 point 5. Second row: multiplication symbol, 1 point 2. Horizontal line. Third row: 0 point 1 0. Fourth row: 0 point 4. Fifth row: 0 point 5. Sixth row: plus 2. Horizontal line. Seventh row: 3 point 0 0. Calculation B, 5 rows. First row: 2 point 5. Second row: multiplication symbol, 1 point 2. Horizontal line. Third row: 0 point 5. Fourth row: plus 2 point 5. Horizontal line. Fifth row: 3 point 0.
1. In the boxes next to each number, write the letter(s) of the corresponding region(s).
2. In Calculation B, which two numbers are being multiplied to give 0.5?
  Which numbers are being multiplied to give 2.5?

Student Response

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Building on Student Thinking

Some students might think that the partial products in Calculation A must be listed in a particular order for it to be correct. Invite students to list the partial products in any way that makes sense to them and compare their results with those of others who list them a different way.

Activity Synthesis

Display the solution shown here for all to see. Give students a minute to make comparisons and to share their observations or questions.

<p>An area model for multiplication and 2 multiplication algorithms </p>

If no students mentioned listing the partial products in Calculation A in a different order from what’s shown, ask students to discuss this idea. Clarify that the order doesn’t affect the result, but it is conventional to start with the smallest place value in each factor and work toward the larger ones. It means starting with (the area of A) and ending with (area of D).

Consider annotating each partial product with the two values being multiplied, as shown:

Next, draw students’ attention to the partial products in Calculation B. Discuss the calculations that produce the partial products 0.5 and 2.5. If not mentioned by students, point out that each partial product comes from multiplying each digit in the second factor by the entirety of the first factor.

The 0.5, represented by the area of A + B in the diagram, is the product of 0.2 and 2.5.
The 2.5, represented by the area of C + D in the diagram, is the product of 1 and 2.5

To highlight this connection, consider shading or coloring the corresponding areas in the diagram and circling these values in the calculations.

Launch

Arrange students in groups of 2. Give groups 2–3 minutes to discuss the first set of questions. Pause for a brief whole-class discussion. Select a few students to share their responses.

Give groups another 2–3 minutes to discuss the second set of questions. Pause for another whole-class discussion. Invite groups to share their responses.

Highlight the relationship between the blue numbers in the calculations and the partial areas in the diagram. Discuss questions such as:

“The numbers in blue—in the calculations and area diagrams—are called “partial products.” Why might that be?” (They represent products of parts of the factors. They are parts of the final product.)
“How are the partial products in Calculation A different from those in Calculation B?” (Calculation A lists the product of any two base-ten digits separately. Calculation B groups them.) “How are they similar?” (They both lead to the same final product.)
“In Calculation B, what calculation would give 72?” (Multiplying 24 by 3) “What calculation would give 240?” (Multiplying 24 by 10.) “What about the 312?” (Adding 72 and 240.)

Next, give students a few minutes of quiet time to complete the remaining questions.

MLR8 Discussion Supports. Before students share with the whole class, provide them with the opportunity to rehearse with a partner what they will say.
Advances: Speaking Action and Expression: Provide Access for Physical Action. Support effective and efficient use of tools and assistive technologies. To use the digital applet, some students may benefit from a demonstration on the use of the sliders or access to step-by-step instructions.
Supports accessibility for: Organization, Memory, Attention

Activity

None

Here are three ways of finding the area of a rectangle that is 24 units by 13 units.
Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3
Discuss with your partner:
1. How are the diagrams the same?
2. How are the diagrams different?
3. If you were to find the area of a rectangle that is 37 units by 19 units, which of the three ways of decomposing the rectangle would you use? Why?
Here are two ways to calculate 24 times 13.

Two vertical calculations of 24 times 13. Calculation A, 7 rows. First row: 24. Second row: multiplication symbol, 13. Horizontal line. Third row: 12. Fourth row: 60. Fifth row: 40. Sixth row: plus 200. Horizontal line. Seventh row: 312. Calculation B, 5 rows. First row: 24. Second row: multiplication symbol, 13. Horizontal line. Third row: 72. Fourth row: plus 240. Horizontal line. Fifth row: 312.

Discuss with your partner:
1. In Calculation A, where does each partial product—the 12, 60, 40, and 200—come from?
2. In Calculation B, where do 72 and 240 come from?
3. Which diagram in the first question corresponds to Calculation A? Which one corresponds to Calculation B? How do you know?
Find the product of 18 and 14 in two ways:
1. Calculate numerically.
2. Find the area, in square units, of this 18-by-14 rectangle. Show your reasoning.

Student Response

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Building on Student Thinking

If the products students find by numerical calculation and by using a diagram don’t match, urge students to examine the partial products and their sum in both the calculation and the diagram.

Launch

Arrange students in groups of 2. Give students 1–2 minutes of quiet work time for the first problem. Pause for a brief whole-class discussion, making sure that all students label each region correctly.

Then give partners 2–3 minutes to analyze the given calculations and discuss the questions. Monitor student discussions to check for understanding. If necessary, pause to have a whole-class discussion on the interpretation of these calculations.

Next, give students 5–6 minutes of quiet time to complete the remaining questions. Tell students that their diagram need not be drawn exactly and that it is fine to estimate appropriate side lengths, but that the labels should reflect the numbers being multiplied.

Some students might find it helpful to use a grid to align the digits in vertical calculations. Provide access to graph paper.

If access to digital devices is available, consider allowing students to use the applet to check their calculations and to explore the products of other decimals.

Representation: Internalize Comprehension. Use color coding and annotations to highlight connections between representations. For example, use color coding to highlight connections between the partial products in the calculations and in the area diagrams.
Supports accessibility for: Visual-Spatial Processing

Activity

None

Here is an area diagram that represents .
A rectangle partitioned vertically and horizontally into 4 rectangles. Top left rectangle, vertical side, 1, horizontal side, 2. Top right rectangle, vertical side, 1, horizontal side, 0 point 4. Bottom left rectangle, vertical side, 0 point 3, horizontal side, 2. Bottom right rectangle, vertical side, 0 point 3, horizontal side, 0 point 4.
1. Find the region that represents . Label it with its area of 0.12.
2. Label the other regions with their areas.
3. Find the value of . Show your reasoning.
Here are two ways of calculating .

Two vertical calculations of 2 point 4 times 1 point 3. Calculation A, 7 rows. First row: 2 point 4. Second row: multiplication symbol, 1 point 3. Horizontal line. Third row: 0 point 1 2. Fourth row: 0 point 6. Fifth row: 0 point 4. Sixth row: plus 2. Horizontal line. Seventh row: 3 point 1 2. Calculation B, 5 rows. First row: 2 point 4. Second row: multiplication symbol, 1 point 3. Horizontal line. Third row: 0 point 7 2. Fourth row: plus 2 point 4. Horizontal line. Fifth row: 3 point 1 2.

Analyze the calculations and discuss these questions with a partner:
1. In Calculation A, where do the 0.12 and other partial products come from?
2. In Calculation B, where do the 0.72 and 2.4 come from?
3. In each calculation, why are the numbers below the horizontal line aligned vertically the way they are?
Find the value of in two ways:
1. Draw and label a diagram. Show your reasoning.
2. Calculate numerically, without using a diagram. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

Student Response

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Building on Student Thinking

When using vertical calculations, students might find the correct partial products but not align them by place value (for example, they might align the rightmost digit of all partial products), resulting in an incorrect sum. Ask them what values the digits in each partial product represent and to consider how they should be added.