Mastering powers of ten: multiply and divide

21 October 2026

Multiplying and dividing by powers of ten

Understanding powers of ten is a key part of 11+ maths. A power of ten means multiplying 10 by itself a certain number of times, such as 10, 100, or 1000. These skills help children work quickly and confidently with large and small numbers.

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Why it matters for 11+ maths

Questions often ask children to multiply or divide by 10, 100, or 1000. These calculations appear in arithmetic, word problems and even data questions. Practising these steps helps children build a strong sense of place value and boosts their speed.

Step-by-step: multiplying by a power of ten

Let's multiply 3500 by 10².

First, remember that 10² means 10 × 10, which equals 100.

Now, multiply 3500 × 100.

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Worked example

3500 × 100 = 350000

The answer is 350000.

Step-by-step: dividing by a power of ten

Suppose we divide 42000 by 10³.

10³ means 10 × 10 × 10, which equals 1000.

So, 42000 ÷ 1000 = 42.

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Why practice makes perfect

When children practise multiplying and dividing by powers of ten, they get faster at moving digits and recognising place value shifts. This saves time and reduces errors in the 11+ exam.

Key insight: Practising these calculations builds number sense and helps children tackle a wide range of 11+ maths questions with confidence.

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