CBSE Class 1 · Mathematics
How Many Times? (Multiplication)
Official NCERT chapter from Joyful Mathematics (English) (book code aejm1). ExamMaster notes are original teaching at CBSE Class 1 depth.
This lesson follows the official chapter “How Many Times? (Multiplication)” in Joyful Mathematics (English). The words below are ExamMaster’s teaching, not a paste from the book. Use the NCERT chapter for the classroom sequence; use these notes to hold the idea without copying exercises or figures.
- CBSE Class 1
- Easy level
- 8 concepts
1Two children on one horse are one equal group
If the rule is “two to a horse”, one horse with two children is one equal group. A horse with one child is not a full group.
The group size is the rule. The number of horses is how many groups.
Figure. The rule is two to a horse. A horse with two children is one equal group. A horse with one child is not a full group.
How it works
- Name the group sizeTwo children.
- See one full horseThat is one group.
- Refuse a leftover child as a groupNot full.
2Equal groups are the start of “how many times”
“How many times” asks how many equal groups. Four horses with two children each is 4 times 2, not a random pile.
Unequal groups are not this chapter’s times. They are a leftover story.
Figure. How many times counts equal groups. Four groups of two is 4 times 2. A mixed pile is not this times.
How it works
- Fix the group sizeThe same every group.
- Count the groupsHow many times.
- Join the groupsThat join is the total.
3Skip-count to find the total
Groups of 2: 2, 4, 6, 8. That skip-count is the running total. It is not a new number system.
Skip-count only by the group size you named. Skipping by 3 when the group is 2 is a different story.
Figure. Skip-count by the group size you named. Groups of 2: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8. The last word is the total, not a new kind of number.
How it works
- Name the skip2.
- Say the next words2, 4, 6, …
- Stop after the last groupThat last word is the total.
4An array is rows of equal groups
Three rows of four dots is 3 times 4. Each row is one equal group. A messy scatter is not an array.
You may also read 4 columns of 3. Same dots, two times-sentences.
Figure. An array is rows of equal groups. Three rows of four is 3 times 4. The same dots can also be read as 4 columns of 3.
How it works
- See a rowOne equal group.
- Count the rowsHow many groups.
- JoinRows \times group size.
55 times 3 is five groups of three
5 × 3 means five groups, each of size 3. It is 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3. It is not 5 + 3.
The first number counts groups. The second names the size. Swapping them swaps the story, even if the total matches later.
Figure. 5 times 3 means five groups, each of size 3. That is 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3. It is not 5 + 3.
How it works
- Draw five groupsEach group has 3.
- Join3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3.
- Read 15Five times three.
Five groups of three
5 horses with 3 children each. How many children?
- Group size3
- Five groups3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
- Total15
Pro tip. 5 \times 3 is repeated 3, not 5 + 3.
6One leftover seat is not a full group
If the rule is two to a horse and one child has no partner, that leftover is not a group of two.
The leftover waits. Do not force it into a times-sentence.
Figure. If the rule is two to a horse, three pairs are three groups. The leftover child is not a group of two. Keep it out of the times-sentence.
How it works
- Fill full groupsPairs only.
- See the leftoverOne child.
- Keep it out of the timesIt is a remainder, not a group.
7A repeated add is the same join
Times is a short name for adding the same number again. 4 × 2 is 2 + 2 + 2 + 2.
If the addends are not the same, you may still add — but you may not call it this times.
Figure. Times is a short name for adding the same number again. 4 times 2 is 2 + 2 + 2 + 2. Mixed addends are not this times.
How it works
- Write the repeated addSame number, again.
- Count how many addsThat is the times.
- Refuse mixed addendsNot this times.
8A story at the park decides the group size
“Two on a horse” sets size 2. “Three on a bench” sets size 3. The park story picks the size. You do not.
Changing the size mid-count makes the times mute.
Figure. The park story picks the group size. Two on a horse locks size 2. Three on a bench locks size 3. Changing size mid-count makes the times mute.
How it works
- Hear the storyHow many to a horse or bench?
- Lock that sizeEvery group the same.
- Then count groupsHow many times.
4 \times 2 is the same join as
- 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
- 4 + 2
- 4 - 2
Times is repeated add of the group size.
Notes
- The official chapter title is “How Many Times? (Multiplication)”. Teach the school test for that title, not a contest shortcut.
- If a step needs a later class, stop. The next official chapter will pick it up.
Formulas
- a \times b means a groups of b.
- 5 \times 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3.
Recap
Hold these pegs from the official chapter “How Many Times? (Multiplication)”. The wording is ExamMaster’s teaching, not a textbook recap.
- Two children on one horse are one equal group
- If the rule is “two to a horse”, one horse with two children is one equal group.
- Equal groups are the start of “how many times”
- “How many times” asks how many equal groups.
- Skip-count to find the total
- Groups of 2: 2, 4, 6, 8. That skip-count is the running total. It is not a new number system.
- An array is rows of equal groups
- Three rows of four dots is 3 times 4. Each row is one equal group. A messy scatter is not an array.
- 5 times 3 is five groups of three
- 5 × 3 means five groups, each of size 3. It is 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3. It is not 5 + 3.
- One leftover seat is not a full group
- If the rule is two to a horse and one child has no partner, that leftover is not a group of two.
Practise How Many Times? (Multiplication)
Reading is free and needs no account. Practice, mocks and progress live in the app.
- A 4-question practice set that ends the chapter
- 1 quick check with worked explanations
- Timed mocks scored with the real marking scheme
- Readiness tracked per topic, kept on your device