• TOC
  • Courses
  • Blog
  • Twitch
  • Shop
  • Search
    • Courses
    • Blog
    • Subreddit
    • Discord
    • Log in
    • Sign up
    • ▾4th grade
      • ▸Place value of whole numbers
        • •Place value of multi-digit whole numbers
        • •Adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers
        • •Multiply and divide by 10
        • •Represent a number using base ten blocks, units, tens, and hundreds
        • •Convert between written forms of numbers
        • •Round whole numbers
        • •Estimating sums and differences by rounding
        • •Estimating products by rounding
      • ▾Multiplication and division
        • •Multiplying one-digit numbers by 10, 100, and 1000
        • •Multiplying one-digit numbers by multiples of 10, 100, and 1000
        • •Multiplying 10s
        • •Multiplication
        • •Quotients and remainders
        • •Pattern in the units digit of multiples
        • •Solve multiplication and division word problems
        • •Multi-step word problems
      • ▸Factors, multiples, and patterns
        • •Factors and multiples
        • •Divisibility tests
        • •Prime and composite numbers
        • •Number patterns
      • ▸Equivalent fractions and comparing fractions
        • •Equivalent fractions
        • •37 trick
        • •Compare fractions with unlike numerators, denominators, or both
      • ▸Fraction arithmetic
        • •Round fractions
        • •Add and subtract fractions with like denominators
        • •Add fractions with denominators of 10 or 100
        • •Multiply fractions by whole numbers
      • ▸Understand decimals
        • •Represent decimal numbers using base ten blocks
        • •Compare decimals to hundredths
      • ▸Geometry
        • •Intro to parallel and perpendicular lines
        • •Lines of symmetry
        • •Rotational symmetry
        • •Intro to angles
        • •Measuring and drawing angles
        • •Coterminal angles
        • •Naming angles
        • •Adjacent angles and the additive property of angles
      • ▸Units of measurement
        • •Converting larger units of volume to smaller ones
        • •Converting larger units of length to smaller ones
        • •Converting larger units of time to smaller ones
        • •Word problems involving measures
     › 4th grade › Multiplication and division

    Solve multiplication and division word problems

    Solve multiplication and division word problems.

    Watch these Khan Academy videos:

    • Division word problem: field goals
    • Multiplication word problem: pizza

    Multiplication and division word problems by Khan Academy

    Here's an interesting problem: One piece of lumber was cut into several pieces, each 4 feet long. 5 cuts were made. How long was the lumber before it was cut?

    Answer: 4 * (5 + 1) = 24 feet.

    Outside these two standards, the phrase multiplicative comparison is never seen in mathematics. I find it annoying this phrase is being used at all.

    Next, give your students this challenge:

    Birthday Cakes by NRICH

    Conclude by leading this investigation:

    Cartouche Puzzles (arithmetic)
    by MathPickle

    4.OA.A.1: Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison, e.g., interpret 35 = 5 × 7 as a statement that 35 is 5 times as many as 7 and 7 times as many as 5. Represent verbal statements of multiplicative comparisons as multiplication equations.

    4.OA.A.2: Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparison, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem, distinguishing multiplicative comparison from additive comparison.

    Lessons and practice problems