Multiplication is repeated addition

In the new elementary school mathematics programs there appears to be a concerted effort to avoid teaching multiplication as repeated addition. This is done for two reasons. First, it is generally believed that multiplication should be considered as an operation that is independent of addition. Second, there is wide pread belief that, although multiplication of whole numbers can be shown as repeated addition, it is not possible to show multiplication of fractions as repeated addition. It is the purpose of this article to show that multiplication of fractions, as well as multiplication of whole numbers, can be taught as repeated addition. Furthermore, it is this writer's belief that the effort to avoid multiplication as addition is psychologicaUy unsound and pedagogically ineffective.