This is a level 3 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It relates to Stage 6 of the Number Framework.
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use arrays to find patterns in multiplication facts
photocopies of a blank multiplication array
FIO, Level 3, Basic Facts, Multiple Mirrors, page 21
classmate
This activity reinforces the commutative property for multiplication. (See also question 2 on page 14 of the students’ booklet.) The patterns that are created are symmetrical, so students will realise whether they are missing a particular product in their shaded pattern. (This connects to the geometry strand.)
Answers to Activity
1. a. Each pattern has reflectional symmetry about the left-to-right or right-to-left diagonal.
b. This happens because the order of factors does not affect the product, for example, 3 x 6 = 6 x 3.
2a.
b. The pattern has 4 lines of reflectional symmetry and rotational symmetry of order 4.
3a.
b. Explanations of patterns will vary.