Solve Multiplicative Comparison Word Problems

Students use multiplication and division to solve one-step word problems involving multiplicative comparisons, such as finding the larger quantity, finding the smaller quantity, or finding the multiplier. They identify the correct operation based on what is unknown in the comparison.

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Grade 4 · Multiplicative Comparisons · question 1 of 3

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20 rungs. A star at the top.

Sana picked 7 shells. Marcus picked 3 times as many shells as Sana. How many shells did Marcus pick?

How it is taught

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Times as many means multiply, not add.

The smaller amount is the group you copy.

Read it: Times as many is equal boxes

What is 5 times as many as 6? Draw 6 as one box, then 5 boxes of 6 in a row: 5 × 6 = 30.

Draw the smaller amount as one box.
Draw the larger amount as that many boxes, each the same size.
Multiply to find the larger amount, or divide to find a box or the number of boxes.

Times as many compares by multiplying: every box is the same size as the smaller amount.

The equation says the same thing: 30 = 5 × 6 means 30 is 5 times as many as 6.

Knowing the larger amount and the boxes, divide: 30 ÷ 5 = 6.

k times as many as a number is k boxes of that number: multiply.

Adding: 5 times as many as 6 is not 6 + 5 = 11.

Times as many means 5 boxes of 6, not 5 more. 5 × 6 = 30.

A box holds 7 crayons. A tub holds 4 times as many crayons. How many crayons does the tub hold? — 28. 4 boxes of 7: 4 × 7 = 28.

Ben has 3 times as many apples as Lily, who picked 5

Today we'll solve a comparing-times problem. Lily picks five apples. Ben picks three times as many. How many apples does Ben pick?

Let's draw Lily's apples. Five apples in one row.

Ben picks three TIMES as many. That means three equal groups of Lily's amount.

Here's Ben's first group — five apples, just like Lily's.

Group two — another five apples.

Group three — five more apples.

When we hear 'times as many', we multiply. So we write five times three.

Grade 4 · Finding the larger quantity

Five times three is fifteen.

Ben picks fifteen apples — three times as many as Lily. Nice work!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal: 1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now: Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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