Mr. Salsich's Class
Third Grade Explorations in Learning
Factors, Arrays, and a… Sloth?
Last month we learned about ARRAYS in math. An array is a group of objects arranged in rows and columns. Each row has the same number of objects.
Equal Rows
Arrays are useful for skip counting and solving multiplication problems. The array above has 3 rows of 4 blocks. That is 3 groups of 4, or 3 x 4.
We can find out how many blocks there are by skip counting by 4′s: 4, 8, 12 – or by doing repeated addition: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. There are 12 blocks.
So, 3 x 4 = 12.
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We have also been learning about FACTORS. Factors are the numbers you can count by to get to a certain number. They are also the numbers you multiply together to get another number (called the product).
To get better at factors and arrays, we have been thinking about all the different ways that you can arrange a set of chairs into equal rows.
Here is a video with our friend Perezoso the sloth to give you an example:
(Thanks to Mrs. Castodio for letting us use the gym, and to our book buddy in kindergarten, Mikey, for being the voice of Perezoso.)
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What array would you have picked for a speech?
Can you find all the factors of 24? How about 36?
What are the factors of 20? How about 48?
Here is one final challenge: What are the factors of 72?
Do you think Perezoso will ever deliver his speech?
16 Responses to “Factors, Arrays, and a… Sloth?”
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February 23rd, 2012 at 9:09 am
My class loved checking out your video on arrays! We loved you idea of arranging the chairs in the gym. We talked about doing that for our next assembly in our gym. When we learned about arrays we made a huge array chart in the hallway at our school. Check it out!
http://blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/trhart/2011/12/02/mulitiplication-array-chart/
February 24th, 2012 at 3:10 am
Another informative and funny video, Perezoso is a great star. I was surprised that he was so perky to start with. I used to fall asleep in maths lessons as well… I wouldn’t be falling asleep in yours!
Do you know about ‘perfect numbers’?
A perfect number is one where the sum of the factors equals the product, when you exclude the original product from the factors. There are two perfect numbers before thirty, the first one you could find quite quickly. After the first two they become very rare indeed.
I’m starting Friday now, you’ll be enjoying some shut eye. Have a nice weekend when it comes.
Mr E
Hawes
February 29th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I loved your video!
For the speech the array I would chose is the 3 by 4 array. Here is all the factors of 24: 1,2,3,4,6,8,12 and 24.
Perezoso will deliver his speech no matter what. Even when he is sleeping.
Your friend,
Shea
February 29th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I do hope you deliver your speech I want to hear it.
The factors of 72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 24, 36 and 72. Those are the factors of 72
Your friend,
Jackie
February 29th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I loved the video. I would of picked the 2 x 6 array. The factors of 24 are: 1,2,3,4,6,8,12 and 24.
Your friend,
Luke
February 29th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I would have chosen the three by four array because it would not be very hard to see the person giving the speech (or something I should say). The factors of 12 are 1,2,3,4,6,and 12.
From,
Joey
February 29th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich
I liked the sloth video because Perezozo was funny. And the fast motion part was good. I would have picked the 3 by 4 array because then every one would hear Perezozo’s speech. Honestly I don’tt think Perezozo will ever deliver his speech.
Your friend
Anthony
February 29th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I loved your video. The factors 24 are 1,2,3,4,6,8,12 and 24.
Your friend
Chase.
February 29th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
The factors of 72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 72.
Sincerely,
Maura
February 29th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich and Perezoso,
I liked the video we made. These are the factors of 24: 1,2,3,4,6,8,12, and 24.
I think Perezoso will deliver his speech. I wonder what it will be about.
From,
Nate
February 29th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich
I liked the video because it was vey funny because Carly was running all over the place and checking if anything was under the chairs. I would have picked 4 rows of 3 because that is the part I read in the video.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn
February 29th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Dear perezeso
I loved your video
I was very sad that you did not give the speech but I was the one with the bright yellow shirt.
This is the problem that I want to answer: the factors of 24 are 1,2,3,4,6,8,12, and 24
The factors of 36 factors 1,2,3,4,6,8,9,12, and 36.
The factors of 72 are 1,2,3,4,6,8,9,12,18,24,36, and 72. Those are all the factors I did. I didn’t have time to do factors of 48 but thats all right.
From,
Carly
February 29th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I think you did great! And you have a very handsome smile.
I thought you would like 3 by 4 because everybody could see your smile. I have a question when will you ever give your speech?
Your friend,
Sophia
February 29th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Dear Perezoso,
I think the 2 by 6 is the best choice because the back row can see you and it’s not too long. I think it would be the best array of chairs.
The factors of 24 would be 1,2,3,4,6,8,12, and 24
Your friend,
Joseph
March 8th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
That was hilarious. I loved the part when Perezoso fell asleep right before he was spost to give his speech. But I’d love to hear Perezoso give his speech.
From,
Kate at Sunnyland Elementy
March 14th, 2012 at 7:55 am
Dear Perezoso and Friends,
Great fun! You all did a fantastic job explaining factors, products and arrays. Believe it or not YOUR math is helping MY math. Being a teensy bit older than a 3rd grader one tends to forget all the vocabulary involved in math. Thanks for the refresher and visual explanation. Oh and I hope that Perezoso can get motivated to give his speech at some point.
Always interested,
Miss Millie (Taylor’s mom)