Partial Products

We first learn to add and subtract. Then we learn to multiply. In Partial Products, we are multiplying but as we multiply, it is actually showing us how to do the multiplication. Partial Products is done in Base 10.

As you multiply each part in Partial products, you add them all together. The partial products method helps you keep track of each place value of each digit.

Let's say you want to multiply 243x5.
You should think of 243 as 200+40+3.
You start from the biggest place value to the smallest place value.

Then your first step is to multiply 200x5, which is 1000.
Then you multiply 40x5, which is 200.
Then you multiply 3x5, which is 15.
Then you add all the numbers you found together.
1000+200+15=1215.


Here is an example that shows you step by step what is happening.