An equal-groups story gives you two numbers: how many groups, and how many in each.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
Work out which is which
"4 boxes of 5 pencils" means 4 groups, with 5 in each.
Check they are equal
If the story says "some have 4 and some have 6", these are not equal groups.
Spotting equal groups in words
Phrases like "each", "every", "per", and "in each box" signal equal groups. "There are 5 bags with 3 apples in each" tells you the group size is 3 and there are 5 groups. Underline the two numbers and label which is which before calculating.
Draw the groups
Sketch 5 circles and put 3 dots in each. Now the answer can be skip-counted: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. The drawing takes a few seconds and removes any doubt about whether you have the group size and the number of groups the right way round.
When the groups are not equal
Sometimes a story gives unequal groups on purpose — 3 bags of 4 and one bag of 2. Then you cannot skip-count the whole thing. Handle the equal part first (3 fours make 12) and add the odd one on (12 + 2 = 14). Reading carefully is what catches this.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Tap and try it out.
5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20
4 rows of 5 makes 20.
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Watch Ana Read a Story
"There are 4 boxes. Each box holds 5 pencils."
- Step 1
She finds the number of groups: 4 boxes.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Fruit Bowl
Problem 1 of 3
3 bowls each hold 4 apples. How many apples are there?
apples
The Garden
Problem 2 of 3
A garden has 5 rows with 5 plants in each. How many plants?
plants
Not Equal
Problem 3 of 3
One box has 3 pens and another has 5. Can you use repeated addition?
Groups in Stories
1 of 3
2 shelves with 5 books each. How many books?
2 of 3
4 tables with 4 chairs each. How many chairs?
3 of 3
5 bags with 3 marbles each. How many marbles?
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 2
4 plates with 3 buns each. How many buns?
Question 2 of 2
Which word tells you the groups are equal?
What You Learned
- Find the number of groups and the size of each.
- Check that the groups really are equal.
- Then add the group size once per group.