Skill: Solve equal-group multiplication problems

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

Equal-group multiplication problems represent a situation in which a known number of equal-sized groups is combined to find a total, modeled as groups × objects per group = total. The learner identifies the two factors, represents their relationship with an array, bar model, or equation, and solves whole-number problems with products generally within 100, recognizing that unequal groups or fractional, decimal, and much larger-number cases are outside this scope.

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Detailed Explanation: Solve equal-group multiplication problems

When a problem has the same number of objects in each group, use multiplication.

Follow these steps:

Find the number of equal groups.
Find the number of objects in each group.
Multiply:

\text{groups} \times \text{objects in each group}=\text{total}

Example:
There are 4 bags. Each bag has 6 apples. How many apples are there altogether?

Number of groups: $4$ bags
Objects in each group: $6$ apples

You can show the groups as an array:

\begin{array}{cccccc} \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎}\\ \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎}\\ \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎}\\ \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} & \text{🍎} \end{array}

There are 4 rows of 6 apples, so write:

4 \times 6 = 24

There are 24 apples altogether.

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