Story problems about "times as many"
In 4th grade, children learn to solve "times as many" word problems, telling them apart from "more than" ones, by choosing to multiply or divide and showing each with a drawing and an equation.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 4th grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Amara's dad planted 3 times as many bean seeds as Amara. Amara planted 12 seeds. How many seeds did her dad plant?
- 15
- 4
- 36
Why this matters
Comparison questions are all around your child: a jacket that costs 3 times as much, a dog that weighs 4 times as much as a cat. Knowing when to multiply and when to divide is the part that carries forward. In 5th grade the same thinking works with fractions, and in middle school it becomes ratios, rates, and percents, where knowing which amount is bigger matters most.
Where kids can get stuck
- Multiplying whenever they see "times," so "18 is 3 times as many as what number?" gets 54 instead of 6.
- Adding instead of multiplying, so "3 times as much as $6" becomes $9 instead of $18.
- Drawing the bar model backwards, with the larger amount as one bar, which points them to the wrong operation.
How you can help
- Make up comparison stories at the grocery store. Say a bag of apples costs $4 and a big bag costs 3 times as much, and ask your child how much the big bag costs and how they knew to multiply.
- Reverse the question at dinner. Tell your child you walked 12 blocks, which is 4 times as far as they walked, and ask how far they walked. Talk about why this one needs dividing.
- Ask two look-alike questions while packing lunches. If you pack 6 crackers, how many is 3 more than that? How many is 3 times as many? Sketch both as bars and talk about why one is 9 and the other is 18.
Want a little more? Try Bobby's Math Club for free practice that adapts to your child.
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning times-as-many word problems this way?
Drawing bars and writing an equation with a box or letter for the unknown helps your child see the structure of the story before doing any arithmetic. In comparison problems, the tricky part is deciding which amount is bigger and whether to multiply or divide. The drawing makes that choice visible. Writing equations like 4 × ? = 20 also builds early algebra habits that your child will use for years.
How does my child know whether to multiply or divide?
It depends on what is missing. If the problem gives the smaller amount and asks for the larger one, your child multiplies: 3 times as much as $6 is $18. If it gives the larger amount and asks for the smaller one, or asks how many times as many, your child divides: 18 ÷ 3 = 6, or 18 ÷ 6 = 3. Asking "Which amount do we already know?" often helps them decide.
My child gets the right answer but will not draw the picture. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. Many children can do easy problems in their heads, and that is fine. The drawing becomes more useful as numbers get bigger and stories get trickier, such as problems that ask for a difference after the comparison. Teachers often ask for a drawing so they can see the thinking. You might encourage your child to sketch one for the harder problems, where it helps the most.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 4th grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Free, unlimited practice for every child in your family
- Questions matched to your child’s level, a few minutes a day
- Level-ups, badges, and a cheer for every win
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Ready to watch your child’s confidence grow?
Your 4th grade child can start today with free, unlimited practice that grows with them.
Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 4.OA.A.2: “Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparison, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem, distinguishing multiplicative comparison from additive comparison.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 4.OA.2)