Word Problems and Long Multiplication Practice
Word problems are basically maths disguised as real-life situations - and they're actually quite straightforward once you spot the pattern. Most of these problems are asking you to multiply because you're finding totals over time or across groups.
For problems like Gemma's CDs (3 per week ร 52 weeks) or the stamp collector (8 per week ร 52 weeks), you're looking for repeated addition - which is exactly what multiplication does. The theatre bus problem is slightly different because you need to check if 4 buses ร 12 people = 48, which is more than the 40 adults needed.
Long multiplication becomes essential when you're dealing with larger numbers like 3941 ร 36. The key is choosing a method that works for you - whether that's the grid method, column method, or breaking numbers down into easier chunks.
Top Tip: Always estimate your answer first! For 45 ร 67, think "50 ร 70 = 3500" so your actual answer should be close to this.
Practice with these problems builds your confidence for tackling similar questions in exams, where word problems often trip students up simply because they overthink them.