The same division fact, \(12 \div 4=3\), can describe two different stories.
A) \(12\) rolls are shared equally among \(4\) bags.
B) \(12\) rolls are packed with \(4\) rolls in each bag.
For each story, tell:
- what the \(4\) means;
- what the \(3\) means;
- whether you are finding how many are in each group or how many groups there are.
Hints
- In each story, ask what the \(4\) counts.
- Then ask what the answer \(3\) counts.
- One story gives the number of groups. The other gives the size of each group.
Solution
1. In A, the \(4\) is the number of bags. The answer \(3\) is the number of rolls in each bag, so this is equal sharing.
2. In B, the \(4\) is the number of rolls in each bag. The answer \(3\) is the number of bags, so this is finding the number of groups.
3. The same division equation can therefore represent different meanings for the number you divide by and answer.
Answer
A) \(4\) is the number of bags. \(3\) is the number of rolls in each bag. We are finding how many are in each group.
B) \(4\) is the number of rolls in each bag. \(3\) is the number of bags. We are finding how many groups there are.