Word problems
Lesson 8 of 10
Choosing the operation
Objective. Decide whether a problem needs multiplication or division.
The key idea
If you know the size of each group and how many groups, multiply. If you know the total and one of those, divide.
Worked example
6 boxes hold 24 pencils each. How many pencils?
- 1Group size 24, number of groups 6 — both known.
- 2So multiply: 24 × 6.
Answer: 144 pencils
Practice
Each question comes with a picture and a listen button. Try it first, then reveal the answer.
Common mistake. Choosing the operation from a keyword alone instead of from what is known.
Your progress
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