The idea, step by step
Choose from the story
Multiplication finds a total when the equal group size and number of groups are known. Division finds a missing group size or a missing number of groups. Draw a bar or an array if the choice is unclear.
For 3 packets with 14 counters in each, split 14 into 10 and 4. Three tens make 30, and three fours make 12, so the total is 42.
Interpret the answer
For 48 cards shared between 4 players, split 48 into 40 and 8. Each player receives 10 cards from the first part and 2 from the second, giving 12.
Some groupings leave items over. If 23 children make teams of up to 5, four full teams use 20 children and three children remain. If every child must join, those three can form a smaller fifth team. The story decides how to use the leftover.
A common trap
Giving a bare division answer without saying what a leftover means.
Instead: State the number of full groups and remaining items. If all items must be packed, say whether one more container is needed.
See the thinking
Find a larger total
A garden has 3 rows with 16 plants in each. How many plants are there?
- Split 16 into 10 and 6.
- 3 × 10 = 30 and 3 × 6 = 18.
- 30 + 18 = 48.
Deal with a leftover
There are 27 pencils. Each full pot holds 4. How many full pots can be filled, and how many pencils remain?
- 6 × 4 = 24 and 7 × 4 = 28, which is too many.
- Six full pots use 24 pencils.
- 27 − 24 = 3 pencils remain.
Check your understanding
Find the total in 4 boxes of 13 counters.
Show answer
52 counters.
4 × 10 = 40 and 4 × 3 = 12; 40 + 12 = 52.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- There are 3 bags with 12 shells in each. How many shells altogether?
- Four players share 48 cards equally. How many cards does each get?
- A theatre has 5 rows with 14 seats in each row. How many seats are there?
- Sixty crayons are packed into 5 equal boxes. How many crayons go in each box?
- Twenty-nine biscuits are packed into bags of 5. How many full bags are made? How many biscuits remain?
- Twenty-nine biscuits must all be packed. A bag can hold at most 5. What is the smallest number of bags needed?
Read the worked solutions
- There are 3 bags with 12 shells in each. How many shells altogether?
3 × 10 + 3 × 2 = 30 + 6 = 36.
36 shells. - Four players share 48 cards equally. How many cards does each get?
40 ÷ 4 = 10 and 8 ÷ 4 = 2; 10 + 2 = 12.
12 cards. - A theatre has 5 rows with 14 seats in each row. How many seats are there?
5 × 10 + 5 × 4 = 50 + 20 = 70.
70 seats. - Sixty crayons are packed into 5 equal boxes. How many crayons go in each box?
5 × 12 = 60.
12 crayons. - Twenty-nine biscuits are packed into bags of 5. How many full bags are made? How many biscuits remain?
5 × 5 = 25; 29 − 25 = 4.
5 full bags and 4 biscuits. - Twenty-nine biscuits must all be packed. A bag can hold at most 5. What is the smallest number of bags needed?
Five bags hold only 25. A sixth bag holds the remaining 4.
6 bags.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / SA Curriculum Mathematics
Tables 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10; linked division; arrays; one-/two-digit problems.
Official curriculum source ↗