Solve the Multiplication Problem: 7 × 3 × 1 Step by Step

Q: Why doesn't multiplying by 1 make the answer 1?

Great question! The identity property says that any number times 1 equals that same number. So $ 21 \times 1 = 21 $, not 1. Think of it as '21 groups of 1' which still gives you 21!

Q: Can I multiply the numbers in a different order?

Yes! The associative property means you can group them differently: $ 7 \times (3 \times 1) $ or $ (7 \times 3) \times 1 $. You'll always get the same answer: 21.

Q: What if there were more numbers to multiply?

Just keep going step by step! For example, $ 7 \times 3 \times 1 \times 2 $ would be: 21 × 1 = 21, then 21 × 2 = 42. Take it one multiplication at a time.

Q: How do I remember the identity property?

Think of it as the 'do nothing' property. When you multiply by 1, you're not really changing the number - it stays identical to what it was before. That's why it's called the identity property!

Multiplication with Identity Property

$7\times3\times1=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 Let's calculate the multiplications

00:10 1 multiplied by any number always equals the number itself

00:14 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$7\times3\times1=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem $7 \times 3 \times 1$ , we will multiply the numbers step-by-step, using the associative property of multiplication.

Step 1: Calculate the product of the first two numbers: $7 \times 3 = 21$ .
Step 2: Multiply the result by the third number: $21 \times 1 = 21$ .

Since multiplying by 1 does not change the value of a number, the intermediate result 21 remains unchanged in the final step.

Thus, the solution to the problem is $21$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Associative Property: Multiply numbers in any order to get same result
Technique: First calculate $7 \times 3 = 21$ , then multiply by 1
Check: Identity property confirms $21 \times 1 = 21$ unchanged ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Ignoring the multiplication by 1
Don't think that multiplying by 1 means the answer is 1! This confuses the identity property with replacement. The number 1 doesn't change other numbers when multiplying - it keeps them the same. Always multiply step-by-step: 7 × 3 = 21, then 21 × 1 = 21.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$1\times1000=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why doesn't multiplying by 1 make the answer 1?

Great question! The identity property says that any number times 1 equals that same number. So $21 \times 1 = 21$ , not 1. Think of it as '21 groups of 1' which still gives you 21!

Can I multiply the numbers in a different order?

Yes! The associative property means you can group them differently: $7 \times (3 \times 1)$ or $(7 \times 3) \times 1$ . You'll always get the same answer: 21.

What if there were more numbers to multiply?

Just keep going step by step! For example, $7 \times 3 \times 1 \times 2$ would be: 21 × 1 = 21, then 21 × 2 = 42. Take it one multiplication at a time.

Is there a faster way to solve this?

Since multiplying by 1 doesn't change a number, you could recognize that $7 \times 3 \times 1$ is really just $7 \times 3 = 21$ . But showing all steps helps you understand the identity property!

How do I remember the identity property?

Think of it as the 'do nothing' property. When you multiply by 1, you're not really changing the number - it stays identical to what it was before. That's why it's called the identity property!

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