Word

Prediction

Definition

Picture

Sentence or Example

array

a set of numbers or objects

that follow a specific
pattern, a matrix or
rectangle

by

When reading the dimensions

of an array, by refers to
the number of rows against
the number of columns.

column

vertical section of an array

There are 3 columns in this array.

Commutative
Property

factors in a multiplication
sentence can switch places
and you will get the same
product

2x3=6 and 3x2=6 shows the commutative

property because even though the factors
are reversed, the product is the same.

equal groups

one factor is the number of

objects in a group

There are 4 equal groups of 15.

The egg carton shows a 2 by 6 array.

The soda cans are in a 2 by 3 array.

and the other is a multiplier

that indicates the number of
groups

equation

a statement that 2
expressions are equal

distribute

with reference to the

Distributive Property; e.g. In
12 3 = (10 3) + (2
3) the 3 is multiplier
for each part of the
decomposition;
multiply smaller chunks of
the multiplication problem
to make it easier

2 times 7 is the same as 2 times 3 plus 2

times 4. You can break 7 into an addition
problem with smaller numbers and distribute
the multiplier to the smaller parts.

divide/division

partitioning a total into

equal groups to show how
many equal groups add up to
a specific
number.
Kid language: break a
number apart into
equal-sized groups

The picture shows 12 flowers divided into 4

equal groups of 3.

34=
12

The equation shows that 3 groups of 4 is

equal to 12.

fact

used to refer to
multiplication facts

A multiplication fact is an equation.

factors

numbers that are multiplied

to obtain a product

The numbers 2 and 3 are factors of 6

because you multiply 2 times 3 to get the
answer 6.

multiplication
/multiply

an operation showing how

many times a number is
added to itself

Instead of adding 4 over and over again, you

can multiply the number of groups that you
have.

number of
groups

factor in a multiplication
problem that refers to the
total equal groups

Number of groups means how many total

groups you have, not the amount in each
group.

parentheses

( ) used around a fact or

numbers within an equation

Parentheses are used to show a number or

group of numbers in a number sentence.

product

the answer to a
multiplication problem

When you multiply numbers together, the

answer you get is called the product.

quotient

the answer when one number

is divided by another

The answer to any division problem is called

the quotient.

rotate

turn, used with reference to

turning arrays 90 degrees

When you rotate something, you turn it.

row

in reference to rectangular
arrays; the horizontal part
of the array

There are two rows in this array.

size of groups

factor in a multiplication
problem that refers to how
many in a group

Size of groups means how many you have in

each group, not your total number of
groups.

unit

one segment of a
partitioned tape diagram
(in the picture, 3 refers to
the unit)

On the diagram, one unit refers to one

group.

unknown

the missing factor or

quantity in multiplication or
division

A missing number in an equation is called an

unknown.