🔢 MathGrade 2Lesson 23
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Solve Equal Group Word Problems

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Decide whether to multiply or divide from an equal-group word problem
  • 2Write the correct number sentence for a multiplication or division word problem and solve
  • 3Give the answer for equal-group word problems
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Mini Lesson

Equal-group word problems always involve groups of the same size. Whether you multiply or divide depends on what the story gives you and what it asks you to find.

When do you multiply?

  • You know the number of groups and the group size — you need the total.
  • Key words: altogether, in all, total, each (when groups and size are given).
  • Example: "4 bags each hold 3 apples. How many apples in all?" → 4 x 3 = 12.

When do you divide?

  • You know the total and either the number of groups or the group size — you find the missing one.
  • Key words: share equally, each person gets, split, how many in each group, how many groups.
  • Example (find group size): "20 crayons shared equally among 4 children. How many each?" → 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
  • Example (find number of groups): "15 flowers put into groups of 5. How many groups?" → 15 ÷ 5 = 3.

Three-step method

  • Step 1 — Read: Find the numbers and underline what the question asks for.
  • Step 2 — Decide: Do you know groups and size (→ multiply) or do you know the total (→ divide)?
  • Step 3 — Solve: Write and calculate the number sentence.
When to multiply versus when to divide in equal-group problemsTwo panels. Left: multiply — you know groups and size, find total, example 4 times 3 equals 12. Right: divide — you know total, find groups or size, example 20 divided by 4 equals 5.Equal Group Decisionsx MULTIPLYYou know:groups x size = ?Find the TOTAL4 bags x 3 apples each4 x 3 = 12÷ DIVIDEYou know:total ÷ groups = ?Find SIZE or GROUPS20 crayons ÷ 4 kids20 ÷ 4 = 5x key words:altogether, in all,total, each (whengroups + size known)÷ key words:share equally, each,split, how manygroups / in each group
Decision card: multiply when you know groups and size, divide when you know the total.
Three-step method with two worked examplesThree steps: Read, Decide, Solve. Example 1: 4 bags of 3 apples each — multiply — 4 times 3 equals 12. Example 2: 15 flowers in groups of 5 — divide — 15 divided by 5 equals 3 groups.3-Step Method1 Read2 Decide3 Solvex Example:4 bags, 3 apples each → How many in all?Decide: know groups (4) + size (3) → multiply4 x 3 = 12 apples÷ Example:15 flowers put into groups of 5.How many groups?Decide: know total (15) + size (5) → divide15 ÷ 5 = 3 groups
Three-step Read-Decide-Solve method with two worked examples.
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Ask yourself: "Do I know both groups AND size? Multiply. Do I know the total? Divide."

Vocabulary
Word problem
A math story you read and then solvee.g. I solved an equal-group word problem.
Multiply
To join equal groups to find a totale.g. I multiplied 4 × 3 to find the total.
Divide
To split a total into equal groupse.g. I divided 20 ÷ 4 to find the group size.
Equal groups
Groups that all have the same number of itemse.g. Four equal groups of 3 made 12.
Number sentence
A math equation that solves the probleme.g. I wrote the number sentence 4 × 3 = 12.
Key words
Words in a story that hint at the operation to usee.g. Share equally is a key word for divide.
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← Lesson 22: Relate Division to MultiplicationLesson 24: Play Multiplication Table Games →