Fact families: 3rd grade
In 3rd grade, fact families expand to multiplication and division within 100. For 4, 7 and 28: 4 × 7 = 28, 7 × 4 = 28, 28 ÷ 4 = 7 and 28 ÷ 7 = 4.
In third grade, fact families expand to multiplication and division within 100. A fact family in 3rd grade is a set of two multiplication facts and two division facts that use the same three numbers, such as 4 × 7 = 28, 7 × 4 = 28, 28 ÷ 4 = 7 and 28 ÷ 7 = 4.
What third graders learn
- Properties of multiplication. Order does not matter, so 4 × 7 = 7 × 4 (Common Core 3.OA.B.5).
- Division as an unknown factor. 28 ÷ 4 asks “4 times what is 28?” (3.OA.B.6).
- Fluency within 100. By the end of the year children know their products from memory (3.OA.C.7).
In England, children learn the 3, 4 and 8 times tables in Year 3, and link multiplication and division throughout Key Stage 2.
Fact family examples for third grade
- 3 × 7 = 21
- 7 × 3 = 21
- 21 ÷ 3 = 7
- 21 ÷ 7 = 3
- 4 × 8 = 32
- 8 × 4 = 32
- 32 ÷ 4 = 8
- 32 ÷ 8 = 4
- 5 × 6 = 30
- 6 × 5 = 30
- 30 ÷ 5 = 6
- 30 ÷ 6 = 5
- 9 × 9 = 81
- 81 ÷ 9 = 9
- 2 × 9 = 18
- 9 × 2 = 18
- 18 ÷ 2 = 9
- 18 ÷ 9 = 2
- 6 × 7 = 42
- 7 × 6 = 42
- 42 ÷ 6 = 7
- 42 ÷ 7 = 6
Learning the tables through families
Each family teaches two entries in the times table. Start with the easier tables and use the family pages to see every fact together: 2, 5 and 10 first, then 3 and 4.
Printable practice for 3rd grade
3rd grade fact family worksheet
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Where third graders get stuck
- Forgetting that division can be checked with multiplication.
- Mixing up the product and the factors. The product is always the biggest number in a whole-number family with factors above 1.
- Treating 0 and 1 as ordinary numbers. Multiplying by 1 keeps the number, and multiplying by 0 gives 0.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fact family in 3rd grade math?
A group of multiplication and division facts that use the same three numbers. For 5, 6 and 30 the family is 5 × 6 = 30, 6 × 5 = 30, 30 ÷ 5 = 6 and 30 ÷ 6 = 5.
What are fact families in KS2?
In Key Stage 2, the focus is on multiplication and division fact families for the times tables up to 12 and on using them to check calculations.
Read the full guide to multiplication and division fact families, or look ahead to kindergarten and 4th grade.