MHB B12 using counters of algebra eq

[karush]

Spoiler: original problem

Use your counters to do each of the following multiplication problems using the definition of multiplying a whole number by an integer.
Use the following example as a model. Example Multiply:
$2\times -6\implies 2\times -6= RRRRRR + RRRRRR = RRRRRRRRRRRR=-12$
why are they using 6 Rs

a.$6\times -2= $\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}
b. $2\times 4= $\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}
c. $5\times -3= $\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}
d. $7\times 2= $\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}$=$\boxed{?}

 

[HOI]

The problem is (ignoring the negative sign as they do here since there are no "negative" counters) 2 times 6. The "R"s represent the counters so there are 6 "R"s representing the 5 counters, twice.

For the others, again using "R" to represent the counters, you would have 4 "R" representing the 4 counters so 2 x 4 would be "RRRR+ RRRR"= "RRRRRRRR".

(This looks like a fourth or fifth grade arithmetic problem. Where did you get it?)

 

[karush]

someone from linkedin asked if I help her with an online class
she works at learning center mostly doing ESL, writing etc
I assume she was encouraged to help students with math but didn't have a strong background
don't know were the online class is from but it is obviously a grade school level
However I was in grade school in the 50s which was just very direct standard stuff
there seems to be so much new terminology and methods even at that level