Multiplying Acorns HD – Tasty Math Facts

Multiplying Acorns is the new app from Operatio. Operatio also developed Subtracting Sardines and Adding Apples, two apps that have been featured on this website. With Multiplying Acorns the premise is the same: children are given a special keypad to use in practicing a mathematical operation. Here that operation will be multiplication. When they tap a number on the keypad that number of squirrels appears at the top of the screen. Now children must tap another number. When they do this each squirrel tosses that many acorns onto the screen. This represents the first number being multiplied by the second. A tap of the equals button and the acorns burst, leaving small nuts. Now three numbers appear on the screen, each is a possible solution to the math problem your child has created. Children can use their finger on the screen to move the acrons and count them, checking their answer before they choose the correct answer. If they are correct then they’ll receive an award of gold coins. The app comes with several unlockable achievements that children will discover as they practice their multiplication and earn coins.

Multiplying Acorns comes with several options that can be adjusted to suit the needs of your child. You will have the ability to set the highest number your child can work with. You can also lock down the keys as your child uses them. For example, once they use “6 in a problem” they would not be able to use it again until they have used all the other numbers on the keypad.

I enjoyed Subtracting Sardines and Adding Apples but I think Multiplying Acorns is my favorite app out of the group. I really appreciate the way the app handles “multiplication”. It’s great fun watching the squirrels throw their acorns into the air when you tap that second number and it demonstrates the concept of multiplication in a fun, new way.

Update 2/25/12 – Multiplying Acorns has had a substantial update. The app now contains three different quiz modes and three bonus games. The bonus games will help children work with hand/eye coordination, timing and problem solving. Statistics are provided for all problems and they show the number of correct and incorrect answers. There is an option to practice the problems that have been left unsolved. An “Easy Counting Option” is available as is “Double Game Speed”.

Price when Reviewed: $.99  for iPad and iPhone version

See the iPad and the iPhone/iPod Touch version in iTunes

Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.

Seller: Operatio

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.