Problem 1
A teacher makes 10 rows of chairs with 8 chairs in each row. How many chairs are there altogether?
Answer: 80 chairs
- There are 10 equal rows.
- Each row has 8 chairs.
- Multiply equal groups: 10 × 8 = 80.
How to explain it: Rows and equal groups are strong signals for multiplication.
Problem 2
A fruit stall sells 13 bags of apples each morning. Every bag has 10 apples. How many apples are sold in those bags?
Answer: 130 apples
- Find the number of groups: 13 bags.
- Find the amount in each group: 10 apples.
- Multiply: 13 × 10 = 130.
How to explain it: Ask, “How many groups?” and “How many in each group?” That almost always clarifies multiplication word problems.
Problem 3
A runner trains for 14 days and completes 9 laps each day. How many laps does the runner complete altogether?
Answer: 126 laps
- The same number of laps is repeated each day.
- That means repeated addition can be shortened with multiplication.
- 14 × 9 = 126.
How to explain it: If your child wants to add repeatedly, let them start there, then show how multiplication says the same thing faster.
Problem 4
A classroom display board is 22 squares wide and 7 squares tall. How many small squares cover the board?
Answer: 154 squares
- This is an array with 22 columns and 7 rows.
- Multiply width by height: 22 × 7 = 154.
- Arrays are a visual model for multiplication.
How to explain it: Area-style questions often help children see multiplication without thinking only about times tables.
Problem 5
A shop sells pencils in packs of 8. If a school buys 10 packs, how many pencils does it get?
Answer: 80 pencils
- Each pack has 8 pencils.
- There are 10 equal packs.
- 10 × 8 = 80.
How to explain it: Make children picture the packs physically. Multiplication makes more sense when the equal groups feel real.
Problem 6
A music lesson lasts 47 minutes. If there are 6 lessons in one afternoon, how many minutes of music lessons are there in total?
Answer: 282 minutes
- Each lesson lasts the same amount of time: 47 minutes.
- There are 6 lessons.
- Multiply: 47 × 6 = 282.
How to explain it: Some children miss multiplication clues when the numbers are not small. Keep stressing equal-sized groups.
Problem 7
One movie ticket costs $3.05. A parent buys 8 tickets. How much do the tickets cost altogether?
Answer: $24.40
- One ticket costs $3.05.
- There are 8 equal ticket prices to add.
- Multiply in cents: 305 × 8 = 2440 cents.
- Convert to dollars: $24.40.
How to explain it: Money is a good reason to multiply decimals or cents because the repeated equal price is easy to imagine.
Problem 8
A club has 11 teams. Each team brings 8 water bottles. How many bottles are brought altogether?
Answer: 88 bottles
- There are 11 equal teams.
- Each team brings 8 bottles.
- Multiply: 11 × 8 = 88.
How to explain it: If a child adds only one or two teams, ask how many equal groups are still missing.
Problem 9
A printer produces 12 labels on each sheet. If the office prints 7 sheets, how many labels are printed?
Answer: 84 labels
- Each sheet has the same number of labels: 12.
- There are 7 sheets.
- 12 × 7 = 84.
How to explain it: Use the language “same each time” to highlight why multiplication fits.
Problem 10
A camp gives every child 10 stickers each day for 6 days. If one child attends every day, how many stickers does that child receive?
Answer: 60 stickers
- One day gives 10 stickers.
- There are 6 equal days.
- Multiply: 10 × 6 = 60.
How to explain it: Repeated rewards over equal days are a clean way to show multiplication as repeated addition.