Chains of Two Operations – Elementary Math

Purpose

Mentally compute multi-step problems using multiplication and division

Materials

None

Overview

Students perform a sequence of computations silently as you read each part of the chain and raise their hands to answer after you say “equals.” For example, you would say, “100 divided by 4,” pause a bit while students digest it, and then say, “divided by 5 equals…”

About the sequence

Part 1 asks students to use mental math to compute two different operations in one chain with numbers less than 50. Part 2 offers continued practice mentally computing problems with these two operations and at a quicker pace.

Part 1

Let’s use mental math to solve number chains with multiplication and division. For example, if I say 4 × 5 ÷ 2 that equals…(10). (Keep the pace deliberately slow so students have time to process the steps between operations.)

Examples:

3 × 5 ÷ 5 (= 3)
2 × 12 ÷ 6 (= 4)
9 × 6 ÷ 2 (= 27)
36 ÷ 9 × 7 (= 28)
24 ÷ 8 × 3 (= 9)

While children are enjoying their building of mastery, feel free to repeat. When children are eager for more, try Part 2.

Part 2

Let’s solve some more number chains using multiplication and division. Here we go!

Examples:

80 ÷ 10 × 5 (= 40)
7 × 2 × 3 (= 42)
9 × 5 × 2 (= 90)
11 × 8 ÷ 4 (= 22)
22 × 2 ÷ 4 (= 11)