What is a multiple?

Every time you say a multiplication fact, you say a multiple.  If you know your multiplication facts, you know the multiples of a number.  Remember to use only whole numbers for the multiplication facts!  This is how the words work!

Since 7 ´ 8 = 56        56 is a multiple of  7   and   56 is a multiple of  8


Now we'll decide if a number is a multiple of another.  Remember, if there is a multiplication fact, you have a multiple

Is 18 a multiple of 3?      Since 3 ´ 6 = 18,  18 is a multiple of 3.  
Is 50 a multiple of 7?      Since there is no multiplication fact,  50 is not a multiple of 7.


Here's another way to talk about a multiple.  

Since 56 is a multiple of 7,  56 is divisible by 7.      Divisible by means divides without a remainder.
Since 50 is not a multiple of 7,  50 is not divisible by 7.      Not divisible by means there is a remainder.


Now we can think about multiples in a new way!  If a number is divisible by another it is a multiple of that number.

Is 48 a multiple of 3?      Since 48 ¸ 3 = 16 with no remainder,  48 is a multiple of 3.
Is 74 a multiple of 4?      Since 74 ¸ 4 = 18 with a remainder of 2,  74 is not a multiple of 4. 


You should be able to see multiples in two ways!

View the tutorial on divisibility for more help on divisible by!

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