CH01-01 lesson

Multiplicative Comparison Learning Activity

A focused Grade 4 learning session for Multiplicative Comparison using visual models, worked examples, strategy guidance, and a short mastery check.

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15
minutes
6
lesson parts
11
practice items
Learning goal

Students will interpret multiplication equations as multiplicative comparisons and explain the relationship between two quantities.

Student goal: I can describe one quantity as a multiple of another quantity.

concept

Learn the Idea

Multiplicative Comparison means choosing a model, naming what each number means, and explaining the strategy.

  • Read the question carefully and identify what is being asked.
  • Choose a model, equation, table, or diagram that matches the situation.
  • Solve one step at a time and keep units or labels attached.
  • Use the answer explanation to check that the result makes sense.
visual model

See the Math

Visual Model 1

Question: Look at the bar model below. Which equation matches? Noah has \(4\) cards. Ava has \(4\) times as many cards as Noah. Which equation shows the number of cards Ava has?

Visual Model 1

  • A. \(\text{Ava} = 4 + 4\)
  • B. \(\text{Ava} = 4 \div 4\)
  • C. \(\text{Ava} = 4 - 4\)
  • D. \(\text{Ava} = 4 \times 4\)

Why it works: Look at the picture: Ava's bar is split into \(4\) equal pieces, each the same length as Noah's bar. That's exactly what "\(4\) times as many" means---so we multiply: Ava \(= 4 \times 4 = 16\) cards.

Answer: Ava \(= 4 \times 4 = 16\)

worked example

Follow a Worked Example

Example 1

Question: Which bar model shows "\(15\) is \(3\) times as many as \(5\)"?

Example 1

  • A. Neither model works
  • B. Model B
  • C. Both are the same
  • D. Model A
  1. "\(3\) times as many" means we need exactly \(3\) equal groups.
  2. Model A shows \(3\) groups---so it matches the comparison.
  3. Model B shows only \(2\) groups, so it would represent "\(2\) times as many," not \(3\).

Answer: Model A

Example 2

Question: Look at the bar model. What is the larger amount? The smaller bar is \(3\). The larger bar is \(6\) times as many. What is the larger amount?

Example 2

  • A. \(3\)
  • B. \(9\)
  • C. \(6\)
  • D. \(18\)
  1. The larger bar is \(6\) times the smaller bar, so we multiply: \(3 \times 6 = 18\).
  2. The larger amount is \(\mathbf{18}\).

Answer: \(18\)

real world

Connect It to a Real Situation

Problem 1

Question: There are \(5\) green marbles. There are \(3\) times as many red marbles as green marbles. Which equation shows how many red marbles there are?

  • A. \(5 + 3 = 8\)
  • B. \(5 - 3 = 2\)
  • C. \(5 \times 3 = 15\)
  • D. \(5 \div 3\)

Why it works: "\(3\) times as many" is a multiplication clue. Make \(3\) groups of the \(5\) green marbles: \(5 \times 3 = 15\) red marbles. Choice C is the equation that shows this.

Answer: \(5 \times 3 = 15\)

strategy

Avoid Mistakes and Choose a Strategy

  • Rushing before identifying what the numbers represent.
  • Choosing an operation that does not match the situation.
  • Dropping labels, units, or context from the answer.
  • Skipping the estimate or reasonableness check.
  • Underline the question being asked.
  • Use a model before jumping to computation.
  • Write an equation that matches the story or picture.
  • Explain the final answer in a sentence.
summary

Remember the Key Idea

Multiplicative Comparison becomes easier when students connect the question to a model, use clear steps, and explain why the answer fits.

GOLDEN RULE

Understand the model before choosing the operation.

Guided to independent practice

Solve before opening the answer

Use scratch paper. The explanation matters more than simply seeing whether the choice is correct.

warmup

2 questions
G4-C01-T01-Q001 About 1 min

Which equation shows that \(24\) is \(6\) times as many as \(4\)?

  1. A \(24+4=28\)
  2. B \(24-4=20\)
  3. C \(24=6\times4\)
  4. D \(24\div4=9\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer C: \(24=6\times4\)

When you see "times as many," think multiplication! "\(6\) times as many as \(4\)" becomes \(6 \times 4\), which equals \(24\). So choice C, \(24 = 6 \times 4\), is the equation that captures that idea.

G4-C01-T01-Q002 About 1 min

Maria has \(3\) stickers. Sam has \(2\) times as many stickers as Maria. How many stickers does Sam have?

  1. A \(3\)
  2. B \(5\)
  3. C \(4\)
  4. D \(6\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(6\)

"\(2\) times as many" is your signal to multiply. Sam has \(2\) groups of Maria's \(3\) stickers: \(2 \times 3 = 6\). So Sam has \(\mathbf{6}\) stickers.

guided

1 question
G4-C01-T01-Q003 About 1 min

Look at the bar model below. Which equation matches? Noah has \(4\) cards. Ava has \(4\) times as many cards as Noah. Which equation shows the number of cards Ava has?

Multiplicative Comparison visual for G4-C01-T01-Q003
  1. A \(\text{Ava} = 4 + 4\)
  2. B \(\text{Ava} = 4 \div 4\)
  3. C \(\text{Ava} = 4 - 4\)
  4. D \(\text{Ava} = 4 \times 4\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(\text{Ava} = 4 \times 4\)

Look at the picture: Ava's bar is split into \(4\) equal pieces, each the same length as Noah's bar. That's exactly what "\(4\) times as many" means---so we multiply: Ava \(= 4 \times 4 = 16\) cards.

practice

5 questions
G4-C01-T01-Q004 About 1 min

There are \(5\) green marbles. There are \(3\) times as many red marbles as green marbles. Which equation shows how many red marbles there are?

  1. A \(5 + 3 = 8\)
  2. B \(5 - 3 = 2\)
  3. C \(5 \times 3 = 15\)
  4. D \(5 \div 3\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer C: \(5 \times 3 = 15\)

"\(3\) times as many" is a multiplication clue. Make \(3\) groups of the \(5\) green marbles: \(5 \times 3 = 15\) red marbles. Choice C is the equation that shows this.

G4-C01-T01-Q005 About 1 min

Which statement matches the equation \(12 = 3 \times 4\)?

  1. A \(12\) is \(4\) more than \(3\)
  2. B \(12\) is \(3\) less than \(4\)
  3. C \(12\) plus \(3\) equals \(4\)
  4. D \(12\) is \(3\) times as many as \(4\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(12\) is \(3\) times as many as \(4\)

Read \(12 = 3 \times 4\) in words: "\(12\) equals \(3\) groups of \(4\)." That's the same as saying "\(12\) is \(3\) times as many as \(4\)." The other choices use more, plus, or less---those describe adding or subtracting, not multiplying.

G4-C01-T01-Q006 About 1 min

Leo reads \(2\) books. His sister reads \(5\) times as many books as Leo. How many books does his sister read?

  1. A \(3\)
  2. B \(7\)
  3. C \(5\)
  4. D \(10\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(10\)

"\(5\) times as many" means we multiply. Leo's sister reads \(5\) groups of \(2\) books, so \(5 \times 2 = 10\) books.

G4-C01-T01-Q007 About 1 min

Diego has \(6\) toy cars. Chen has \(4\) times as many toy cars as Diego. How many more cars does Chen have than Diego?

  1. A \(10\)
  2. B \(4\)
  3. C \(24\)
  4. D \(18\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(18\)

This is a two-step problem. Step 1: find Chen's cars: \(4 \times 6 = 24\). Step 2: "how many more" is a subtraction question, so \(24 - 6 = 18\). Chen has \(\mathbf{18}\) more cars than Diego.

G4-C01-T01-Q008 About 1 min

Look at the groups below. Group 2 has how many times as many counters as Group 1?

Multiplicative Comparison visual for G4-C01-T01-Q008
  1. A \(3\)
  2. B \(9\)
  3. C \(6\)
  4. D \(4\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(4\)

To find "how many times as many," divide the bigger amount by the smaller. Group 2 has \(12\), Group 1 has \(3\), and \(12 \div 3 = 4\). So Group 2 has \(\mathbf{4}\) times as many counters.

exit

3 questions
G4-C01-T01-Q009 About 1 min

Mia bakes \(8\) cookies. Max bakes \(2\) times as many cookies as Mia. How many cookies does Max bake?

  1. A \(6\)
  2. B \(8\)
  3. C \(10\)
  4. D \(16\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(16\)

"\(2\) times as many" is a multiplication signal. Max bakes \(2\) groups of Mia's \(8\) cookies: \(8 \times 2 = 16\) cookies.

G4-C01-T01-Q010 About 1 min

Which equation does NOT show a multiplicative comparison?

  1. A \(18 = 3 \times 6\)
  2. B \(18 = 12 + 6\)
  3. C \(20 = 4 \times 5\)
  4. D \(35 = 5 \times 7\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer B: \(18 = 12 + 6\)

Multiplicative comparisons use the symbol \(\times\) (or words like "times as many"). Choices A, C, and D all use \(\times\). Choice B uses \(+\), which is an additive comparison---not multiplicative.

G4-C01-T01-Q011 About 1 min

Alex has \(7\) pencils. Jordan has \(3\) times as many pencils. How many pencils does Jordan have?

  1. A \(10\)
  2. B \(4\)
  3. C \(7\)
  4. D \(21\)
Check answer and explanation

Answer D: \(21\)

"\(3\) times as many" is a multiplication signal. Jordan has \(3\) groups of Alex's \(7\) pencils: \(7 \times 3 = 21\) pencils.

Keep the learning path connected
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