Step-by-step Maths Level 5: Equal groups and division with the tables
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 5 times tables 6 to 12 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Equal groups and division with the tables
When things are put into equal groups, multiply the number of groups by the number in each group. To find how many groups, divide.
A division is worked out with the matching times table fact. 54 ÷ 6 asks: 6 times what makes 54?
Key ideas
- Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Division asks how many groups of a number make a total.
- Check each division by multiplying back.
Method. Use the multiplication fact to find the division.
- Think of the multiplication: 9 × ___ = 72. Division asks how many groups of the number make the total.9 × ___ = 72
- Count in 9s until you reach 72. Count the steps as you go.9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72
- Write the answer. This is the number of groups.8
Check. Check: 8 × 9 = 72.
Watch out. Use the times table fact that matches. Division is the opposite of multiplication.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.54 cups in boxes of 6
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.6 × ___ = 54
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.9
Check. Check: 9 boxes of 6 hold 9 × 6 = 54 cups.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.6 bags of 8
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.6 × 8 = 48
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.48
Check. Check: 48 ÷ 6 = 8, so each bag has 8.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Watch out
Watch out. Check which operation the problem needs: sharing into groups is division; the total of equal groups is multiplication.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say “groups of” in each problem before they choose multiply or divide.
Exercise 3E Practice: equal groups and missing numbers in division
Non-calculatorMethod. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.110 muffins in boxes of 11
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.11 × ___ = 110
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, 110
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.10
Check. Check: 10 boxes of 11 hold 10 × 11 = 110 muffins.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.5 bags of 12
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.5 × 12 = 60
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.60
Check. Check: 60 ÷ 5 = 12, so each bag has 12.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.2 bags of 8
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.2 × 8 = 16
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.16
Check. Check: 16 ÷ 2 = 8, so each bag has 8.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.36 cups in boxes of 9
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.9 × ___ = 36
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.9, 18, 27, 36
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.4
Check. Check: 4 boxes of 9 hold 4 × 9 = 36 cups.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.121 pencils in boxes of 11
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.11 × ___ = 121
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, 110, 121
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.11
Check. Check: 11 boxes of 11 hold 11 × 11 = 121 pencils.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.9 bags of 12
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.9 × 12 = 108
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.108
Check. Check: 108 ÷ 9 = 12, so each bag has 12.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Method. Use the multiplication fact to find the division.
- Think of the multiplication: 11 × ___ = 99. Division asks how many groups of the number make the total.11 × ___ = 99
- Count in 11s until you reach 99. Count the steps as you go.11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99
- Write the answer. This is the number of groups.9
Check. Check: 9 × 11 = 99.
Watch out. Use the times table fact that matches. Division is the opposite of multiplication.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.8 bags of 6
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.8 × 6 = 48
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.48
Check. Check: 48 ÷ 8 = 6, so each bag has 6.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.18 stickers in boxes of 9
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.9 × ___ = 18
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.9, 18
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.2
Check. Check: 2 boxes of 9 hold 2 × 9 = 18 stickers.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.3 bags of 11
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.3 × 11 = 33
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.33
Check. Check: 33 ÷ 3 = 11, so each bag has 11.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.132 stickers in boxes of 11
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.11 × ___ = 132
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, 110, 121, 132
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.12
Check. Check: 12 boxes of 11 hold 12 × 11 = 132 stickers.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Use the multiplication fact to find the division.
- Think of the multiplication: 9 × ___ = 81. Division asks how many groups of the number make the total.9 × ___ = 81
- Count in 9s until you reach 81. Count the steps as you go.9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81
- Write the answer. This is the number of groups.9
Check. Check: 9 × 9 = 81.
Watch out. Use the times table fact that matches. Division is the opposite of multiplication.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.48 pencils in boxes of 8
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.8 × ___ = 48
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.6
Check. Check: 6 boxes of 8 hold 6 × 8 = 48 pencils.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Multiply the number of groups by the number in each group.
- Find the number of bags and the number in each. Multiply the number of equal groups by the size of each group.3 bags of 6
- Work out the multiplication. Use the times table for this number.3 × 6 = 18
- Write the answer. This is the total number of sweets.18
Check. Check: 18 ÷ 3 = 6, so each bag has 6.
Watch out. If you are not sure of the fact, count in the times table, one group at a time.
Method. Division with equal groups: the number of boxes is the total divided by the box size.
- Find the total and the size of each box. The total is how many; the box holds a certain number.90 muffins in boxes of 9
- Think: how many groups of the box size make the total? This is a division, which we can check with the table.9 × ___ = 90
- Count the boxes. Count in the box size until you reach the total.9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90
- Write the answer. This is the number of boxes.10
Check. Check: 10 boxes of 9 hold 10 × 9 = 90 muffins.
Watch out. Check the answer makes sense: each box holds the same number.
Method. Use the multiplication fact to find the division.
- Think of the multiplication: 7 × ___ = 84. Division asks how many groups of the number make the total.7 × ___ = 84
- Count in 7s until you reach 84. Count the steps as you go.7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84
- Write the answer. This is the number of groups.12
Check. Check: 12 × 7 = 84.
Watch out. Use the times table fact that matches. Division is the opposite of multiplication.