Word Problems with Arrays
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Word problems tell stories with numbers. In this lesson, you will learn how to solve word problems by drawing arrays and writing multiplication sentences.
Steps to Solve Word Problems with Arrays
- Read the problem carefully - What is the story about?
- Find the key numbers - How many rows? How many in each row?
- Draw an array - Show the rows and columns
- Write a multiplication sentence - rows x items = total
- Solve and answer the question - What did the problem ask?
Key Words to Look For
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| rows | lines going across (horizontal) |
| each | tells you how many in one group |
| equal groups | same number in every group |
| in all / total | the answer you need to find |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Muffins in a Pan
"A muffin pan has 3 rows. Each row holds 4 muffins. How many muffins can the pan hold in all?"
Step 1: The story is about muffins in a pan.
Step 2: 3 rows, 4 muffins in each row
Step 3: Draw the array:
O O O O
O O O O
O O O O
Step 4: 3 x 4 = 12
Step 5: The pan can hold 12 muffins in all.
Example 2: Desks in a Classroom
"Ms. Chen arranged desks in 5 rows with 6 desks in each row. How many desks are there?"
Key numbers: 5 rows, 6 desks each
Array:
D D D D D D
D D D D D D
D D D D D D
D D D D D D
D D D D D D
Multiplication: 5 x 6 = 30
Answer: There are 30 desks in the classroom.
Example 3: Eggs in a Carton
"An egg carton has 2 rows with 6 eggs in each row. How many eggs fit in the carton?"
Key numbers: 2 rows, 6 eggs each
Array:
O O O O O O
O O O O O O
Multiplication: 2 x 6 = 12
Answer: 12 eggs fit in the carton.
Practice Problems
Solve each word problem. Draw an array and write a multiplication sentence.
Problem 1
A bakery displays cookies on a tray. The tray has 4 rows with 5 cookies in each row. How many cookies are on the tray?
Array: Draw it!
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ cookies
Problem 2
A parking lot has 3 rows of cars. Each row has 7 cars. How many cars are in the parking lot?
Array: Draw it!
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ cars
Problem 3
Emma plants flowers in her garden. She makes 6 rows with 3 flowers in each row. How many flowers did Emma plant?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ flowers
Problem 4
A stamp sheet has 4 rows. There are 4 stamps in each row. How many stamps are on the sheet?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ stamps
Problem 5
Mr. Lopez set up chairs for a show. He made 5 rows with 8 chairs in each row. How many chairs did he set up?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ chairs
Problem 6
A window has 2 rows of panes. Each row has 4 panes. How many panes does the window have?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ panes
Problem 7
Maya has stickers on a page. The stickers are in 3 rows with 9 stickers in each row. How many stickers does Maya have?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ stickers
Problem 8
A farmer plants apple trees in 4 rows. Each row has 6 trees. How many apple trees did the farmer plant?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ trees
Problem 9
Write your own word problem that uses 3 x 5. Then solve it.
Your problem: _______________________________________________
Answer: ___
Problem 10
A box of chocolates has rows of chocolates. There are 24 chocolates total in 4 equal rows. How many chocolates are in each row? (Hint: Think backwards!)
Answer: ___ chocolates in each row
Problem 11
Leo has 5 bags of marbles. Each bag has 5 marbles. How many marbles does Leo have in all?
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Answer: ___ marbles
Problem 12
A keyboard has number keys in a row at the top. There is 1 row with 10 number keys. Write this as a multiplication sentence.
Multiplication: ___ x ___ = ___
Check Your Understanding
Answer these questions to check what you learned.
- What is the first thing you should do when solving a word problem?
- What key word tells you how many are in one group?
- If a problem says "5 rows with 4 in each row," what multiplication sentence would you write?
- Why is it helpful to draw an array when solving word problems?
Click to see answers
- Read the problem carefully to understand the story.
- The word "each" tells you how many in one group.
- 5 x 4 = 20
- Drawing an array helps you see the problem and count to check your answer.
Next Steps
- Look for array word problems in everyday life
- Practice writing your own word problems for friends to solve
- Move on to the next lesson: Common Mistakes to Avoid