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• How to Find Multiples of a Number (Grades 3–5): Methods, Examples, and Practice

How to Find Multiples of a Number (Grades 3–5): Methods, Examples, and Practice

A multiple is a number you get when you multiply one integer by another. All numbers have multiples — even the very largest numbers! A number multiplied by another number is called a factor of that number.

Finding multiples of a number is a key skill kids will need to learn in math. So, in this guide, I will cover the best methods on how to find multiples of a number, which do help me in my teaching practice.

Key points:

• Finding multiples means finding numbers that you can get when you multiply one number by another
• There are three key methods kids can use to find multiples: skip counting, using multiplication, and listing multiples in order
• Using multiplication means adding a number to itself the number of times represented by the second number

What does “finding multiples” mean for elementary students?

For elementary students, finding multiples means identifying the numbers you get when you multiply a whole number by 1, 2, 3, and so on. For example, the multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 because they come from multiplying 4 by other whole numbers.

We can find multiples in times tables and other places in math. We also see it in our everyday lives, from calculating the cost of multiples of the same item to converting measurements, so multiplication is central to our day-to-day lives.

Multiples definition 4th grade 

The multiples definition in 4th grade refers to a number obtained by multiplying one whole number by another whole number. 

Now, let’s look at an example to answer the question, “What is a multiple in math 4th grade?” 15 is a multiple of 3 because 3 × 5 = 15, and it is a multiple of 5 because 5 × 3 = 15. It can also be defined as the result of two factors being multiplied together, or a number being added to itself a certain number of times.

How to find multiples of a number (3 easy ways)

• Skip counting
• Using multiplication
• Listing multiples in order

Skip counting

Skip counting is one of the easiest methods of finding multiples in the 3rd grade. It is often used as a starting point when kids begin learning multiplication.

Skip counting involves counting in numbers other than 1. So, in standard counting, we’d count in ones — 1, 2, 3, and so on. But in skip counting, we’d count consistently by a different number, which naturally leads us to find multiples of that number.

Let’s use the example of skip counting in twos. It would go 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and so on. Each number we count will be a multiple of 2. This is essentially 1 x 2, 2 x 2, 3 x 2, 4 x 2, 5 x 2 etc.

Using multiplication

Once kids have mastered skip counting, they will begin learning multiplication. A simple way to do this is to add the number to itself, in the amount equal to the number they are multiplying it by. 

Let’s look at an example. If we need to find the answer to 5 x 6, we can simply add 5 to itself 6 times. 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 30.

Listing multiples in order

Our final method to find multiples of a number is to list them in order. This method is an advanced form of skip counting, and it’s used in multiplication tables. For example, if we were to find multiples of 9 using this method, it would look something like this: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, and so on. If we were to keep going, this list would be infinite — i.e., there would be no end to it! This is true of all multiples.

Listing multiples is the method extensively used in the finding multiples worksheet. It’s a highly useful, free resource for teaching children how to multiply and find multiples.

Besides, these math worksheets are downloadable and printable, so you can use them for gamified learning at home. Kids can complete them digitally and on paper, and they include answer sheets so you can grade their work. They’re a useful resource to supplement math classes or tutoring sessions and keep kids’ knowledge fresh.

Multiples examples parents can review at home

Now, let’s look at some multiple examples parents can review at home with kids to aid learning. Real examples make math easier to learn and visualize, so if kids are struggling to understand the concept of finding multiples, these examples will help.

Multiples of 24:

• 24
• 48
• 72
• 96
• 120
• 144
• 168
• 192
• 216
• 240

The multiples of 12:

• 12
• 24
• 36
• 48
• 60
• 72
• 84
• 96
• 108
• 120

Multiples practice questions (grades 3–5)

Now, let’s look at some multiple practice questions so kids can hone their newly acquired skill. We’ll use the different methods in these multiples word problems and provide answers for the different methods so they can practice using them all.

Question 1:

Using only the multiplication method, what numbers multiply together to give 12?

Answer:

2, 3, 4, and 6

Solution:

4 x 3 = 12 

2 x 6 = 12

Question 2:

Using only the multiplication method, what numbers multiply together to give 24?

Answer:

2, 3, 4, 6, and 12

Solution:

6 x 4 = 24

8 x 3 = 24

12 x 2 = 24

Question 3:

Using only the skip-counting method, what numbers multiply together to give 12?

Answer:

2, 3, 4, and 6

Solution:

To use the skip counting multiples example method, you can skip count by 1s up to the number 6 (as a number larger than half of your number cannot be a factor of that number or have it as a multiple), and see which numbers have 12 as a multiple.

2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 — therefore, 2 is a factor of 12

3: 3, 6, 9, 12 — therefore, 3 is a factor of 12

4: 4, 8, 12 — therefore, 4 is a factor of 12

5: 5, 10, 15 — therefore, 5 is not a factor of 12

6: 6, 12 — therefore, 6 is a factor of 12

Question 4:

Using only the listing method, what numbers multiply together to give 24?

Answer:

2, 4, 6, 8, and 12

Solution:

For this multiple math example method, you can find the factors of 24 by making a list of pairs of numbers that multiply to give 24 with no remainders. That list should look like 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 24.

1 x 24 = 24

2 x 12 = 24

4 x 6 = 24

3 x 8 = 24

Quick check: Is it a multiple?

Now, let’s do some quick checks on some numbers to see if they are multiples of another number. Kids can use these multiples practice in the 4th grade checks to deepen their multiplication skills.

Is 54 a multiple of 3?

Yes, 54 is a multiple of 3. Let’s work through this by using each different method:

Skip counting method

Here, we will skip count in 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54 — as 54 is in our list, this means it is a multiple of 3.

Multiplication method

Here, we work out how many times we need to multiply 3 by to get 54:

• 1 x 3 = 3
• 2 x 3 = 6
• 3 x 3 = 9
• 3 x 4 = 12
• 3 x 5 = 15
• 3 x 6 = 18
• 3 x 7 = 21
• 3 x 8 = 24
• 3 x 9 = 27
• 3 x 10 = 30
• 3 x 11 = 33
• 3 x 12 = 36
• 3 x 13 = 39
• 3 x 14 = 42
• 3 x 15 = 45
• 3 x 16 = 48
• 3 x 17 = 51
• 3 x 18 = 54

Therefore, we now know both that 54 is a multiple of 3, and that you multiply 3 by 18 to get 54.

Listing method

Finally, we can use the listing method to find out if 54 is a multiple of 3:

• 3
• 6
• 9
• 12
• 15
• 18
• 21
• 24
• 27
• 30
• 33
• 36
• 39
• 42
• 45
• 48
• 51
• 54

54 appears in our list; we can be sure that it is a multiple of 3.

Is 39 a multiple of 3?

Yes, 39 is a multiple of 3. Now, let’s use our different methods to work this out.

Skip counting method

First, let’s use the skip counting method. Here, we will be counting in 3s again: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39.

We have reached the number 39 in our skip counting, which means it is a multiple of 3.

Multiplication method

Now, let’s use the multiplication method to discover if 39 is a multiple of 3. Here, we go through the 3 multiplication tables and multiply them by each number to see if any of them result in 39.

• 1 x 3 = 3
• 2 x 3 = 6
• 3 x 3 = 9
• 3 x 4 = 12
• 3 x 5 = 15
• 3 x 6 = 18
• 3 x 7 = 21
• 3 x 8 = 24
• 3 x 9 = 27
• 3 x 10 = 30
• 3 x 11 = 33
• 3 x 12 = 36
• 3 x 13 = 39

We can see that 3 x 13 equals 39, so 39 is a multiple of 3.

Listing method

Finally, we’ll use the listing method to determine if 39 is a multiple of 3. Here, we list all multiples of 3 in order.

• 3
• 6
• 9
• 12
• 15
• 18
• 21
• 24
• 27
• 30
• 33
• 36
• 39

39 appears in our list of multiples, so we can definitely say that 39 is a multiple of 3.

For children who need to build their knowledge in math — and particularly those who are struggling with multiplication — it’s a good idea to work with a specialized tutor.

The Brighterly math and reading platform offers personalized tutoring to children. Their tailored curriculum is created by tutors after a diagnostic test, which highlights their strengths and weaknesses.

With tutoring from highly qualified experts, you can maximize children’s results in math!

Next steps 

The journey of finding multiples of different numbers does not end here! There is plenty more learning and practice to be done. Here are some more steps kids can take to master multiples of different numbers:

• Check out the theoretical part, which dives deeper into the peculiarities of multiples, provides a further example of multiples, and lists concepts like common multiples.
• The article on how to teach multiplication covers 16 ways to teach this foundational math skill, ensuring learners can use lots of methodologies.
• Finally, it’s a good idea to learn about multiplication facts. Exploring facts in math helps strengthen knowledge and retention — take a look at this multiplication facts content now.

Conclusion

Multiplication is a crucial skill children need to master in math. It’s also key in our everyday life — whether we use it to calculate the cost of multiple items, scale recipes for baking and cooking, or calculate our distance and speed on a journey, it’s beneficial beyond just math classes.

If children are struggling with multiplication or finding multiples 5th grade and beyond, parents may want to consider hiring a private tutor. Brighterly uses personalized teaching to address kids’ areas of weakness in math, whether that’s multiplication or something else, ensuring they don’t fall behind in class. In fact, our students often excel ahead of their peers!

Book free lesson to see your child’s grades soar and their confidence improve.