What are multiples?

A multiple is a number that can be divided by a smaller number, or itself, an exact number of times, without a remainder.

Another way to think of it is that multiples of a number belong to that number's times table.

For example, the multiples of 2 are all the numbers in the 2 times table.

The multiples of 2 are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10…

The multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20…

Activity: How to spot multiples

Complete this interactive activity to better understand multiples. Then put your knowledge to the test.

You can use blocks to help you work out if a number is a multiple of another.

If you can put the cubes into equal groups with none left over, then you can say that the number is a multiple.

If there are blocks left over, then the number is not a multiple.

Here are 16 blocks.

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You can divide 16 by 2 and there are no remainders, so you can say that 16 is a multiple of 2.
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You can also divide 16 by 4 and there are no remainders, so you can say that 16 is a multiple of 4.
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But if you divide 16 by 5, there is a remainder, so you can say that 16 is not a multiple of 5.