Multiplication and Divisions — Year 2 Maths

Year 2 multiplication and division: what pupils learn

Year 2 is where multiplication and division are introduced properly, through the 2, 5 and 10 times tables, arrays, and the idea that multiplication can be done in either order.

By the end of Year 2, the National Curriculum expects pupils to:

• recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 times tables, including recognising odd and even numbers
• write and calculate multiplication and division number sentences using ×, ÷ and = signs
• show that multiplication of two numbers can be done in either order (it is commutative), but division cannot
• solve problems involving multiplication and division, using objects, arrays, repeated addition, mental methods, and known facts, including in everyday contexts

Key vocabulary

multiply, times, array, equal groups, divide, share, group, odd, even, commutative, repeated addition

How it builds

Year 2 is pupils’ first formal multiplication and division, building on counting in 2s, 5s and 10s from Year 1. In Year 3, pupils add the 3, 4 and 8 times tables and begin multiplying two-digit numbers.

Frequently asked questions

What is an array?
Objects arranged in equal rows and columns, used to show multiplication visually. 3 rows of 4 counters shows 3 × 4 = 12, and turning the array on its side shows 4 × 3 = 12 too.

Why does order matter for division but not multiplication?
3 × 5 and 5 × 3 both equal 15, but 15 ÷ 3 and 3 ÷ 15 give very different answers, so division must be tackled in the order it’s written.

How can I help my child learn the 2, 5 and 10 times tables?
Counting aloud in steps of 2, 5 and 10, forwards and backwards, builds the pattern before the multiplication facts are drilled on their own.

Start with our free resources, or get every Year 2 maths lesson with a membership.