Step-by-step Maths Level 4: Sharing and grouping problems

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   42 seats in all
2. Count in 6s until you reach 42. Each table takes 6 seats.
   6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   7 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   7

Check. Check: 7 tables × 6 seats = 42.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Grouping: count how many groups of the size you are given can be made from the total.

1. Count in 5s until you reach 35. Each bag takes 5. Count one bag at a time.
   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35
2. Count the bags. Each count is one full bag of 5.
   7 bags
3. Write the answer. This is the number of bags.
   7

Check. Check: 7 × 5 = 35.

Watch out. In grouping, you are given the size of each group and you find the number of groups.

Method. Sharing: put the same number into each group. Divide the total by the number of groups.

1. Count the friends. Each friend gets the same number.
   8 friends
2. Share the items one at a time. Put one in each group, then start again until none are left.
   72 shared into 8 groups
3. Count the items in one group. Each group has the same number.
   72 ÷ 8 = 9
4. Write the answer. This is how many each friend gets.
   9

Check. Check: 9 × 8 = 72.

Watch out. The number of friends is the number of groups, not the number in each group.

Method. Sharing: put the same number into each group. Divide the total by the number of groups.

1. Count the friends. Each friend gets the same number.
   5 friends
2. Share the items one at a time. Put one in each group, then start again until none are left.
   25 shared into 5 groups
3. Count the items in one group. Each group has the same number.
   25 ÷ 5 = 5
4. Write the answer. This is how many each friend gets.
   5

Check. Check: 5 × 5 = 25.

Watch out. The number of friends is the number of groups, not the number in each group.

Method. Sharing: put the same number into each group. Divide the total by the number of groups.

1. Count the friends. Each friend gets the same number.
   8 friends
2. Share the items one at a time. Put one in each group, then start again until none are left.
   32 shared into 8 groups
3. Count the items in one group. Each group has the same number.
   32 ÷ 8 = 4
4. Write the answer. This is how many each friend gets.
   4

Check. Check: 4 × 8 = 32.

Watch out. The number of friends is the number of groups, not the number in each group.

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   8 seats in all
2. Count in 4s until you reach 8. Each table takes 4 seats.
   4, 8
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   2 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   2

Check. Check: 2 tables × 4 seats = 8.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   36 chairs in all
2. Count in 4s until you reach 36. Each table takes 4 chairs.
   4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   9 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   9

Check. Check: 9 tables × 4 chairs = 36.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Sharing: put the same number into each group. Divide the total by the number of groups.

1. Count the friends. Each friend gets the same number.
   3 friends
2. Share the items one at a time. Put one in each group, then start again until none are left.
   18 shared into 3 groups
3. Count the items in one group. Each group has the same number.
   18 ÷ 3 = 6
4. Write the answer. This is how many each friend gets.
   6

Check. Check: 6 × 3 = 18.

Watch out. The number of friends is the number of groups, not the number in each group.

Method. Sharing: put the same number into each group. Divide the total by the number of groups.

1. Count the friends. Each friend gets the same number.
   6 friends
2. Share the items one at a time. Put one in each group, then start again until none are left.
   54 shared into 6 groups
3. Count the items in one group. Each group has the same number.
   54 ÷ 6 = 9
4. Write the answer. This is how many each friend gets.
   9

Check. Check: 9 × 6 = 54.

Watch out. The number of friends is the number of groups, not the number in each group.

Method. Sharing: put the same number into each group. Divide the total by the number of groups.

1. Count the friends. Each friend gets the same number.
   6 friends
2. Share the items one at a time. Put one in each group, then start again until none are left.
   12 shared into 6 groups
3. Count the items in one group. Each group has the same number.
   12 ÷ 6 = 2
4. Write the answer. This is how many each friend gets.
   2

Check. Check: 2 × 6 = 12.

Watch out. The number of friends is the number of groups, not the number in each group.

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   42 chairs in all
2. Count in 6s until you reach 42. Each table takes 6 chairs.
   6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   7 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   7

Check. Check: 7 tables × 6 chairs = 42.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   25 seats in all
2. Count in 5s until you reach 25. Each table takes 5 seats.
   5, 10, 15, 20, 25
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   5 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   5

Check. Check: 5 tables × 5 seats = 25.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Grouping: count how many groups of the size you are given can be made from the total.

1. Count in 3s until you reach 12. Each bag takes 3. Count one bag at a time.
   3, 6, 9, 12
2. Count the bags. Each count is one full bag of 3.
   4 bags
3. Write the answer. This is the number of bags.
   4

Check. Check: 4 × 3 = 12.

Watch out. In grouping, you are given the size of each group and you find the number of groups.

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   12 places in all
2. Count in 4s until you reach 12. Each table takes 4 places.
   4, 8, 12
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   3 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   3

Check. Check: 3 tables × 4 places = 12.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Each table connects to the same number of chairs. Find how many groups of the table size make the total.

1. Work out what we need to find. We need the number of tables.
   40 places in all
2. Count in 5s until you reach 40. Each table takes 5 places.
   5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40
3. Count the tables. Each count is one table.
   8 tables
4. Write the answer. This is the number of tables.
   8

Check. Check: 8 tables × 5 places = 40.

Watch out. Each table is one group. The question asks for the number of groups.

Method. Grouping: count how many groups of the size you are given can be made from the total.

1. Count in 2s until you reach 4. Each bag takes 2. Count one bag at a time.
   2, 4
2. Count the bags. Each count is one full bag of 2.
   2 bags
3. Write the answer. This is the number of bags.
   2

Check. Check: 2 × 2 = 4.

Watch out. In grouping, you are given the size of each group and you find the number of groups.