The basic idea of multiplication is repeated addition.
Example: 5 × 3 = 5 + 5 + 5 = 15
But as well as multiplying by whole numbers, we can also multiply by fractions, decimals and more.
Example: 5 × 3½ = 5 + 5 + 5 + (half of 5) = 17.5
Play with it here: