Smarter than a 4th grader

[Fayettenam]

My daughter's math problem read, Solve the problem 40 x 13. Leave your multiple of 10 whole and break apart your smaller factor. What do they mean? Please help.

 

[Ishuda]

My daughter's math problem read, Solve the problem 40 x 13. Leave your multiple of 10 whole and break apart your smaller factor. What do they mean? Please help.

Leave your multiple of 10 whole: I would guess leave 40 alone (it is whole multiples of 10)
break apart your smaller factor: Write 13 as 10 + 3 (a whole multiple of 10 plus a smaller factor of 3)
So
40 x 13 = 40 x (10 + 3) = (40 x 10 + 40 x 3)
but that is just a guess.

 

[DanaAJames]

Teacher who wrote that up should be fired! Why create confusion :shock:

"Leave the 40 whole, break apart the 13" would be clear...

What does the teacher mean by break apart?

Ugh! I give up! ?

 

[Fayettenam]

Leave your multiple of 10 whole: I would guess leave 40 alone (it is whole multiples of 10)
break apart your smaller factor: Write 13 as 10 + 3 (a whole multiple of 10 plus a smaller factor of 3)
So
40 x 13 = 40 x (10 + 3) = (40 x 10 + 40 x 3)
but that is just a guess.

Thanks a lot!