The Zero Hero Trick
Did you know numbers ending with zeroes are actually the easiest to multiply?
When you see numbers with zeroes at the end, you can use a special trick to solve them quickly! Here's how it works:
3 Simple Steps
1️⃣ Count the zeroes at the end of both numbers
2️⃣ Multiply the numbers without the zeroes
3️⃣ Add all the zeroes back at the end
Let's Try Some Examples!
Example 1: The Cookie Factory
A cookie factory makes 200 cookies in each box. If they ship 30 boxes, how many cookies are there total?
Let's solve: 200 × 30
1️⃣ Count the zeroes: 200 has 2 zeroes, 30 has 1 zero → Total 3 zeroes
2️⃣ Multiply without zeroes: 2 × 3 = 6
3️⃣ Add the zeroes back: 6 + 000 = 6,000
Answer: 6,000 cookies! That's a lot of yumminess! 🍪
Example 2: Money Multiplication
If you save $50 each week for 400 weeks, how much money will you have?
Let's solve: 50 × 400
1️⃣ Count the zeroes: 50 has 1 zero, 400 has 2 zeroes → Total 3 zeroes
2️⃣ Multiply without zeroes: 5 × 4 = 20
3️⃣ Add the zeroes back: 20 + 000 = 20,000
Answer: $20,000! You're becoming a math millionaire! 💰
Parent Tips 🌟
- Real-world practice: Have your child calculate totals when shopping (e.g., "If apples cost $2 each and we buy 30, how much?")
- Zero hunt game: Make a game of finding numbers with trailing zeroes in everyday life - street numbers, prices, etc.
- Visual aid: Use graph paper to show how 20 × 30 makes a rectangle of 600 squares, helping visualize why the zeroes add up.