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Maths skills for age 10

A clear guide to the main maths ideas children often meet around age 10, including large numbers, long multiplication, fractions and decimals, angles.

Quick answer

By the end of this page, you'll understand the main maths skills children usually learn around age 10, including working with large numbers, long multiplication, fractions and decimals, and angles.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:
  • Work confidently with large numbers up to 1,000,000
  • Multiply 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers using the long multiplication method
  • Add and subtract fractions with different denominators
  • Measure and draw angles using a protractor

Why this matters

These maths skills are important because they help you solve bigger problems in school and in real life. You'll use large numbers when counting money, measuring distances, or working with data. Long multiplication helps you work out how much things cost when you buy more than one. Fractions and decimals are used in cooking, shopping, and telling time. Understanding angles helps you build things, play games, and even navigate your way around.

How it works

Let's go step by step through each skill:
  • Large numbers: You’ll learn how to read, write, and compare numbers up to a million.
  • Long multiplication: You'll use the column method to multiply 2-digit numbers.
  • Fractions and decimals: You'll learn how to add and subtract fractions with different denominators, and how decimals connect to fractions.
  • Angles: You'll learn how to measure and draw angles using a protractor.

Examples you can see

Large numbers

Let's look at how we write and understand large numbers.
  • 100,000 = one hundred thousand
  • 1,000,000 = one million
You can think of a million as a thousand thousands. If you had 1,000 coins, and you had 1,000 sets of those, you'd have 1,000,000 coins.

Long multiplication

Let's multiply 24 × 13 using long multiplication:
  1. First, multiply 24 by 3 (the ones digit of 13): 24 × 3 = 72
  2. Then, multiply 24 by 10 (the tens digit of 13): 24 × 10 = 240
  3. Add the results: 72 + 240 = 312

Fractions and decimals

To add 1/4 and 1/3:
  1. Find a common denominator (which is 12): 1/4 = 3/12, 1/3 = 4/12
  2. Add the numerators: 3 + 4 = 7
  3. Answer: 7/12

Angles

Angles are measured in degrees (°). A full turn is 360°, a half turn is 180°, and a quarter turn is 90°.
  • A right angle is 90°
  • An acute angle is less than 90°
  • An obtuse angle is between 90° and 180°

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Treasure Hunt

You're on a treasure hunt! You have a map that shows you must walk 345 steps north, then turn and walk 237 steps east. You also need to find a treasure chest that's buried 150cm deep. Let’s use what you’ve learned:
  1. First, you'll need to add 345 + 237 to find how many steps you walked in total. (Answer: 582 steps)
  2. Then, you'll multiply 150 × 2 to find how deep you'd have to dig if you found 2 treasure chests. (Answer: 300cm)
  3. You'll also need to divide 300 by 100 to find how many metres deep the chest is. (Answer: 3 metres)

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to carry numbers when multiplying.
    Why: Children may get distracted or not understand place value.
    Fix: Always double-check your work and write down your carry digits clearly.
  • Mistake: Adding or subtracting fractions without finding a common denominator.
    Why: It’s easy to forget to change the fractions.
    Fix: Always find a common denominator before adding or subtracting.
  • Mistake: Confusing right angles with acute or obtuse angles.
    Why: The angle shapes can look similar.
    Fix: Use a protractor to measure each angle and compare it to 90°.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:
  • Practising large numbers with your child using real-life examples like counting money or measuring distances.
  • Using everyday situations to practice long multiplication, like working out how many cookies you'd get if you had 12 packs of 15 cookies each.
  • Using fraction manipulatives or drawings to help visualise fractions and decimals.
  • Practising angle measurement with a protractor at home or during walks (e.g., measuring turns).
Don't worry if your child makes mistakes—this is part of learning. Encourage them to keep trying and explain their thinking.

Practice questions

  1. What is 456,789 rounded to the nearest 10,000?
  2. Calculate 34 × 27 using long multiplication.
  3. Add 3/5 + 2/7.
  4. Draw an angle of 120° using a protractor.
  5. What is 0.6 as a fraction?

Answers

  1. 460,000
  2. 918
  3. 31/35
  4. Draw an angle of 120°
  5. 3/5

FAQ

What are the main maths skills for age 10?
At age 10, children usually learn to work with large numbers, multiply 2-digit numbers, add and subtract fractions, and measure angles.

How can I help my child with long multiplication?
Use real-life examples like calculating the total cost of items or working out how many tiles you'd need for a room. Practice the column method step-by-step.

Why do we need to learn about angles?
Angles help us understand space, build things, and navigate. They're also used in art, music, and games.

How can I make fractions easier for my child to understand?
Use visual models like pizza slices, fraction bars, or drawing shapes divided into parts. This helps make the abstract idea more concrete.

What should my child know before learning long multiplication?
They should be confident with multiplication tables, place value, and addition with carrying.