2nd Grade Multiplication Concepts and Problems

Multiplication for 2nd Graders

In 2nd grade, students use their knowledge of addition to begin learning about multiplication. To prepare for more advanced multiplication, your child will first learn to group objects. Grouping will help your child to distinguish odd and even numbers, and to later express this grouping as an equation. At this age level, drawing pictures is a good tool that your child can use to solve problems.

Using addition, your child will also learn how to recognize a rectangular array and figure out the total number of objects it contains. In later elementary grades, your child will be taught how to find the total number of objects in an array by using multiplication.

Sample Multiplication Problems

1. There are five boxes on the table. Each box has three bottles of ketchup inside. How many bottles of ketchup are there in all the boxes combined?

Your child will need to add five groups of three like this: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15. Later, your child will learn that this problem can be solved by multiplying 3 x 5.

2. This afternoon, seven children from the community came over to swim. Each of the children brought two pool toys. How many total pool toys do we have to play with?

In order to figure out the solution to this problem, your child will add seven groups of two (2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 14).

3. Sue set the table for four people. Each place setting had four items. How many items are on the table altogether?

You child figure out the total number of items on the table by adding the number of items at each table (4) four times. The answer is 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16.

4. Each adult had three cups of coffee. If there are six adults, how many cups of coffee were there total?

Your child will need to add six groups of three to find the answer. Here is the equation you child can make to solve this problem: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 =18.

5. Mrs. Smith gathered eggs this morning. She placed ten eggs in each of her two baskets. How many eggs did she gather?

To find the total number of eggs, add the eggs in each basket. The equation looks like this: 10 + 10 = 20. The answer is 20 eggs.

6. Mom brought in two bags of groceries. Each bag had eight grocery items inside. How many grocery items did Mom buy altogether?

To solve this problem, your child should create two groups of eight items, which equals a total of 16 grocery items (8 + 8 = 16).