Game Board Makers: Tile It, Then Multiply

Count the square spaces on each game board, then multiply the side lengths.

Count the spaces

Each square space on a game board is 1 inch long and 1 inch wide. It covers 1 square inch.

Priya makes a racing game board.

Count the square spaces one by one: spaces
Multiply the side lengths: 6 × 4 = square inches

Which multiplication fact tells how many square spaces are on Theo's board?

A. 3 + 8 = 11B. 4 × 8 = 32C. 3 × 8 = 24D. 3 × 7 = 21

The game club cut out four boards, A, B, C, and D. Circle the letter of every board that has an area of exactly 12 square inches.

Rows of spaces

Think of each board as rows of square spaces. Then multiply the side lengths.

Kofi's board has 3 rows of square spaces.

How many spaces are in each row? spaces
Add the rows: 7 + 7 + 7 = spaces
Multiply the side lengths: 7 × 3 = square inches

Ruby counts the spaces on this board one by one and gets 28. Mateo multiplies the side lengths, 6 × 5, and gets 30 square inches. Who found the correct area?

A. Only RubyB. Only MateoC. Both Ruby and MateoD. Neither Ruby nor Mateo

Omar's board is covered by 24 square spaces in 4 equal rows. Its left side is 4 inches long.

How many spaces are in each row? spaces
How long is the top side of the board? inches

Each board is covered with 1-inch square spaces. Sort the boards by their area.

Design a board

Use what you know about square spaces and multiplication.

The club must choose between two boards.
Board PBoard Q

Area of board P: square inches
Area of board Q: square inches
Which board has more square spaces? Write P or Q:

A board is 9 inches long and 4 inches wide. Explain why 9 × 4 gives the same number as counting every 1-inch square space on the board.

10.

Each small square on this grid is 1 square inch. Draw a rectangle board that covers exactly 18 squares. Then write a multiplication fact for your board next to it.