Solve "times as many" word problems
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.
In this video, your child will learn to solve times as many word problems.
The lesson stops at each question for your child's answer.
Three problems, each a little harder
Each problem is worked step by step. Your child will solve the last one before Bobby shows how.
Example 1
Mo has 9 stickers. Lily has 4 times as many. How many stickers does Lily have?
Example 2
Ana has 40 stamps. Bo has 5 stamps. How many times as many stamps does Ana have?
Your child's turn
Eva has 63 pens. That is 9 times as many as Raj has. How many pens does Raj have?
The three key steps
- 1Copies of the smaller, not more
- 2Don't know the bigger? Multiply.
- 3Know it? Divide.
Mistakes to listen for
- 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.
The lesson shows every step, so your child sees why it works. Read our parent's guide to story problems about "times as many" →
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More 4th grade Problem Solving, with questions your child answers along the way.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need an account to watch?
No. You can watch this on any device at any time. If your child would like to practice story problems about "times as many", and you'd like parent-friendly reports on your child's progress and growth, you can join Bobby's Math Club for unlimited free practice.
What happens when my child answers a question?
A right answer gets a cheer, and the lesson carries on. If your child isn't sure, they can tap "I don't know yet", and Bobby gives the answer and shows another example. Nothing is scored or stored.
Is this the same lesson that's on YouTube?
Yes. Here, the lesson stops at each question and waits for your child to answer. On YouTube, each question stays on screen for a few seconds, and then the lesson plays on.
Where can I learn more?
There's a short, kid-friendly lesson like this one for every Pre-K to 5th grade math skill, all in our video library. Our parent's guide to story problems about "times as many" has more on where kids get stuck and how you can help at home. In the club, your child practices at just the right level, about five minutes a day, and you get parent-friendly reports as they grow. Learn more about how it works →
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