Step-by-step Maths Level 5: Multiplication word problems
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 5 long multiplication of two-digit by one-digit numbers chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Multiplication word problems
Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.
Scaling: multiply by the number of times, for example 3 times as many as 14 is 3 × 14.
Key ideas
- Equal groups: number in each group × number of groups.
- Scaling: amount × number of times.
- Give the answer in the same unit as the question.
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.24 pencils in each of 7 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.24 × 7 = 168
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.168 pencils
Check. Check: 168 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 7.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the scaling number. Lee has the number of times as many as Sam.3 times 14
- Multiply. Scaling is multiplying by the number of times.14 × 3 = 42
- Write the answer. This is the number of stamps Lee has.42 stamps
Check. Check: 42 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 3.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.32p for each of 5 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.32p × 5 = 160p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.160p
Check. Check: 160p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 5.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Watch out
Watch out. Times as many means multiply, not add. 3 times as many as 14 is 42, not 17.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say the unit in the answer: pencils, pence or stamps.
Exercise 4E Practice: multiplication word problems
Non-calculatorMethod. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.13p for each of 8 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.13p × 8 = 104p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.104p
Check. Check: 104p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 8.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.20 pencils in each of 4 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.20 × 4 = 80
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.80 pencils
Check. Check: 80 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 4.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.29p for each of 8 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.29p × 8 = 232p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.232p
Check. Check: 232p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 8.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the scaling number. Lee has the number of times as many as Sam.2 times 35
- Multiply. Scaling is multiplying by the number of times.35 × 2 = 70
- Write the answer. This is the number of stamps Lee has.70 stamps
Check. Check: 70 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 2.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.12 pencils in each of 4 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.12 × 4 = 48
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.48 pencils
Check. Check: 48 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 4.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.46 pencils in each of 7 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.46 × 7 = 322
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.322 pencils
Check. Check: 322 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 7.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.28 pencils in each of 5 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.28 × 5 = 140
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.140 pencils
Check. Check: 140 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 5.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.41p for each of 8 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.41p × 8 = 328p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.328p
Check. Check: 328p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 8.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.28p for each of 3 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.28p × 3 = 84p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.84p
Check. Check: 84p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 3.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.24 pencils in each of 8 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.24 × 8 = 192
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.192 pencils
Check. Check: 192 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 8.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the scaling number. Lee has the number of times as many as Sam.2 times 58
- Multiply. Scaling is multiplying by the number of times.58 × 2 = 116
- Write the answer. This is the number of stamps Lee has.116 stamps
Check. Check: 116 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 2.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the number in each group and the number of groups. Each box is one group.30 pencils in each of 6 boxes
- Multiply to find the total. Equal groups: multiply the number in each group by the number of groups.30 × 6 = 180
- Write the answer. This is the total number of pencils.180 pencils
Check. Check: 180 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 6.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.76p for each of 9 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.76p × 9 = 684p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.684p
Check. Check: 684p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 9.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the cost of one pen and the number of pens. Each pen costs the same amount.54p for each of 3 pens
- Multiply the cost of one pen by the number of pens. The total cost is the cost of each times the number.54p × 3 = 162p
- Write the answer. Give the cost in pence, as the question asks.162p
Check. Check: 162p is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 3.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the scaling number. Lee has the number of times as many as Sam.5 times 14
- Multiply. Scaling is multiplying by the number of times.14 × 5 = 70
- Write the answer. This is the number of stamps Lee has.70 stamps
Check. Check: 70 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 5.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).
Method. Multiply the number in each group by the number of groups, or the amount by the number of times.
- Find the scaling number. Lee has the number of times as many as Sam.9 times 24
- Multiply. Scaling is multiplying by the number of times.24 × 9 = 216
- Write the answer. This is the number of stamps Lee has.216 stamps
Check. Check: 216 is more than the first number, because we multiplied by 9.
Watch out. Check the units: the answer should be in the same unit as the question (pencils, pence, stamps).