Mathematics
Grade 6
15 min
Multiply whole numbers: word problems
Multiply whole numbers: word problems
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify keywords and phrases that indicate multiplication in word problems.
Extract relevant numerical information from word problems.
Set up multiplication equations to represent real-world scenarios.
Accurately multiply whole numbers to solve word problems.
Interpret the product in the context of the word problem and state the answer with appropriate units.
Differentiate between multiplication and other operations when solving word problems.
Apply estimation strategies to check the reasonableness of their answers.
Ever wonder how many cookies you'd need for a party if everyone wanted 3 and 15 friends are coming? 🍪 Let's find out how multiplication helps us solve these everyday puzzles!
In this lesson, you'll learn how to tackle word...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Word ProblemA mathematical problem presented in a narrative or story format, requiring you to read and understand the situation to find the solution.If a baker makes 12 cakes per day, how many cakes does he make in 7 days?
Multiplication KeywordsWords or phrases in a word problem that often signal that multiplication is the correct operation to use.Keywords include 'each', 'per', 'times', 'product', 'total of' (when referring to equal groups), 'groups of', 'doubled', 'tripled'.
FactorsThe numbers that are multiplied together to get a product.In the problem $5 \times 8 = 40$, the numbers 5 and 8 are the factors.
ProductThe result or answer obtained when two or more numbers are multiplied t...
3
Core Formulas
The Multiplication Operation
$a \times b = c$
This is the fundamental operation used when you need to find the total number of items in 'a' equal groups, where each group has 'b' items. 'a' and 'b' are called factors, and 'c' is the product.
Identifying Multiplication in Word Problems
Look for keywords and context clues.
When a problem asks for a 'total' of 'equal groups' or uses words like 'each', 'per', 'times', 'product', 'doubled', or 'tripled', it's a strong indicator that multiplication is the correct operation. Understand what quantities are being grouped and how many items are in each group.
Setting Up and Solving the Problem
$(...
5 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
A large office building has 112 floors. The building manager is replacing all the door handles. There are 45 offices on each floor, and each office has 2 doors. The cost of one door handle is $18. How many new door handles are needed for the entire building?
A.5,040 handles
B.10,080 handles
C.2,016 handles
D.181,440 handles
Challenging
A company's top salesperson, Alice, sells 42 software packages per month. The company's second-best salesperson, Bob, sells 35 packages per month. How many more packages does Alice sell than Bob over a period of 12 months?
A.77
B.924
C.84
D.504
Challenging
A digital screen has a resolution of 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels. This means there are 1920 columns and 1080 rows of tiny lights (pixels). How many total pixels are on the screen?
A.3,000 pixels
B.207,360 pixels
C.2,073,600 pixels
D.1,920,800 pixels
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free