Division and Multiplication Problems with Solutions

What Kinds of Division and Multiplication Problems Will My Child Encounter?

Multiplication and division typically are introduced in third grade. Students generally start their studies by memorizing multiplication and division facts for 0-12 and taking timed tests. You can help your child understand the relationship between multiplication and division by encouraging him or her to check work using the opposite operation. For example, your child can check his or her answer to the division problem 42 ÷ 6 = 7 by using multiplication: 6 x 7 = 42.

Also in elementary school, your child will learn long division, which typically involves larger numbers and, when numbers don't evenly divide, remainders. For example, in the problem 50 ÷ 12, the answer is four with a remainder of two (4 R2) because 12 x 4 = 48.

Your elementary student also will learn to multiply and divide fractions. With multiplication, the top numbers in the fractions, called the numerators, are multiplied together, as are the bottom numbers in the fractions, called the denominators. For instance, 3/4 x 1/5 = (3 x 1)/(4 x 5) = 3/20.

Dividing fractions is a bit more complicated because it involves inverting the second fraction. For example, with the problem 1/4 ÷ 6/2, you would flip the second fraction (6/2 becomes 2/6) and then multiply: 1/4 x 2/6 = 2/24, which can be reduced to 1/12.

Problems and Solutions by Concept

Basic Multiplication and Division

1. Kennedy bought three shirts for $11 each. How much money did she spend?

It can be helpful to have your child practice word problems since they often appear on standardized tests. For this problem, the answer is $33 because 3 x 11 = 33.

2. Max has 15 cookies and five friends. How many cookies can he give to each friend?

Max can give three cookies to each friend each because 15 ÷ 5 = 3.

Long Division

1. 202 ÷ 4

If your child is struggling with long division, encourage him or her to use trial and error. For example, he or she might try multiplying four by different numbers until getting close to 202. In this case, the answer is 50 R2 because 4 x 50 = 200.

2. Karen has 108 inches of ribbon. For each present, she needs 18 inches of ribbon. How many presents can she decorate?

She can decorate six presents because 108 ÷ 18 = 6.

Fractions

1. 8/7 x 3/1

The answer is 24/7.

2. 6/8 ÷ 4/5

Remind your child to invert the second fraction. The problem should look like this: 6/8 x 5/4 = 30/32, which can be reduced to 15/16.