Multiplication and Division Word Problems
Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities
What a learner can do afterwards
- Solve an equal-groups word problem using multiplication
- Solve a measurement division problem (e.g. 'How many 4-cm pieces from a 28-cm ribbon?')
- Solve an array/area word problem using multiplication
- Solve an equal-sharing word problem by dividing the total equally
1 · Read
Word problems about party bags and snack packs hide multiplication and division. Look for clues. If you get equal groups and need the total, multiply. If you get a total and need to make equal groups or groups of a size, divide. Sharing equally is dividing too. If 20 grapes are shared among 4 friends, each gets 20 ÷ 4 = 5 grapes.
Division can also tell you how many equal pieces fit inside a total. This is called measuring. Ask yourself: how many groups of that size are in the total? Check by multiplying back: pieces times piece size should rebuild the total.
A ribbon is 28 cm long. Each piece needs to be 4 cm. Divide the total by the piece size: 28 ÷ 4 = 7 pieces.
To pick the right operation, look at what's missing. Know the groups and the size of each group? Multiply for the total. Know the total and the size of each group? Divide for the number of groups.
Multiply when you know the groups and need the total. Divide when you know the total and need to split it evenly.
The rewritten reading was written for this dataset.
More to read
Solve problems using the four operations
Word problems are stories with numbers hiding inside. Start by finding what the story asks, then decide which operation fits. Equal groups point to multiplication, while sharing points to division.
Draw the story before you calculate. Bars, arrays and number lines turn confusing words into pictures you can solve.
Multiplication equations
Equations are sentences with numbers. The equals sign says both sides balance. In 7 x ? = 63 the missing factor must make the sides match.
Use the related fact to fill gaps. Since 7 x 9 = 63, the missing number is 9.
Finding totals for equal groups
Multiplication finds the total of equal groups without repeatedly adding the same number. The calculation 4 x 6 can mean four groups of six objects. A multiplication fact saves you from counting every object separately.
Practise facts for 2, 5, and 10 first. Use those familiar facts to learn harder ones. Knowing more facts can help you work through longer calculations faster.
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2 · Watch
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17 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.