Workshop: Multiplication Strategies

TIMS Task

Students will need rulers readily available.

36 square centimeters; Possible response: I divided the shape into 3 rectangles. The middle rectangle was 3 cm by 8 cm so it is 24 square centimeters. The next rectangle was 3 centimeters by 3 centimeters so it was 9 square centimeters but only half of it is shaded so the shaded area is 41/2 square centimeters. The third rectangle was 3 centimeters by 5 centimeters so the area is 15 square centimeters. Since only half is shaded the shaded area is 71/2 square centimeters. I added 24 + 41/2 + 71/2 = 36 square centimeters.