Lesson 7

Relate Multiplication and Division

Warm-up: How Many Do You See: Tens (10 minutes)

Narrative

The purpose of this How Many Do You See is for students to use grouping strategies to describe the images they see.

When students use grouping to find the total in a multiple of tens, they look for and make use of structure (MP7).

Launch

  • Groups of 2
  • “How many do you see? How do you see them?”
  • Flash the image.
  • 30 seconds: quiet think time

Activity

  • Display the image.
  • “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
  • 1 minute: partner discussion
  • Record responses.

Student Facing

How many do you see? How do you see them?

Base ten diagram. 6 tens.

Student Response

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Activity Synthesis

  • “What expressions could we record for the different ways that students saw the tens?” (\(6 \times 10\), because some students saw 6 groups of 10. \(3 \times (10 \times 2)\), because some students saw 2 rows of 10, then multiplied by 3. \((3 \times 10) \times 2\), because some students multiplied 3 times 10 for each column, then multiplied by 2.)
  • Consider asking:
    • “Who can restate in different words the way _____ saw the tens?”
    • “Did anyone see the tens the same way but would explain it differently?”
    • “Does anyone want to add an observation to the way _____ saw the tens?”

Activity 1: Division Round Table (20 minutes)

Narrative

The purpose of this activity is for students to solidify what they have learned about the relationship between multiplication and division. Students start by creating a drawing of equal groups. They then get a drawing created by another student in their group and write a division situation to match it. Then, they pass their paper and use the drawing of equal groups and the situation to write a multiplication equation. In the final round of this “carousel” structure, students write a division equation to match the other representations. 

When students relate drawings, situations, and equations they reason abstractly and quantitatively (MP2). As students look through each other’s work, they add to the representations and can defend different points of view. Students are able to critique the work of others and construct viable arguments (MP3).

Students work on the same box on a graphic organizer as the other students in their group, so if they struggle, encourage them to talk to their group. Remind students that what they are creating should match what has already been filled in.

Engagement: Develop Effort and Persistence. Check in and provide each group with feedback that encourages collaboration and community. For example, supporting students in participating, passing the paper to the right, and writing the symbol.
Supports accessibility for: Social-Emotional Functioning, Language

Required Materials

Materials to Copy

  • Division Round Table

Launch

  • Groups of 4
  • Give each student a recording sheet.
  • “In the first box on your sheet, create a drawing that shows equal groups of objects. This drawing will be used by other students in your group to fill in the other boxes.”
  • 3 minutes: independent work time

Activity

  • “Pass your paper to your right. In Box 2, write a description of a division situation that matches the drawing you were just passed.”
  • 3 minutes: independent work time
  • “Pass your paper to your right. In Box 3, write a multiplication equation that matches the drawing and division situation you just received. Use a symbol for the unknown quantity.”
  • 2 minutes: independent work time
  • “Pass your paper to your right. In Box 4, write a division equation that matches the drawing, division situation, and multiplication equation you just received. Use a symbol for the unknown quantity.”
  • 2 minutes: independent work time
  • “Pass your paper one more time. You should have your original drawing back.”
  • “Talk to your group about which box was the most difficult for you to fill in. Share ideas about what helped you most during this activity.”
  • 5 minutes: small-group discussion

Student Facing

Your teacher will give you a sheet of paper with 4 boxes on it and instruct you to draw or write something in each box.  

After working on each box, pause and wait for your teacher's instructions for the next box.

  1. Draw equal groups in Box 1 on your recording sheet.
  2. In Box 2, write a description of a division situation that matches the drawing you just received.
  3. In Box 3, write a multiplication equation that matches the drawing and division situation you just received. Use a symbol for the unknown quantity.
  4. In Box 4, write a division equation that matches the drawing, division situation, and multiplication equation you just received. Use a symbol for the unknown quantity.

Students playing a math game at a table.

Student Response

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Activity Synthesis

  • “What strategies were shared in your group?” (When I wasn’t sure about writing a situation, I looked back at the drawing and tried to imagine something I could be dividing that looks like the drawing. When I was writing an equation it helped me to imagine the situation happening.)
  • “As you look at your paper, what are some connections you notice between multiplication and division?” (I can use both multiplication and division to represent the same drawing or situation. The multiplication equations are all missing a factor, but the division equations are all missing the quotient.)

Activity 2: Sets of School Supplies (15 minutes)

Narrative

The purpose of this activity is for students to represent and solve problems involving equal groups. Students can solve the problem first or write the equation first, depending on the order that makes the most sense to them. Students write equations with a symbol standing for the unknown quantity to represent each problem, but can write either a multiplication equation or a division equation. A multiplication equation and a division equation that represent the same problem are highlighted in the synthesis.

MLR8 Discussion Supports: Prior to writing the equations, invite students to make sense of the situations and take turns sharing their understanding with their partner. Listen for and clarify any questions about the context.
Advances: Reading, Representing

Launch

  • Groups of 2
  • “These situations are all about things that you could find on a desk or around a desk. What are some things that you could find on a desk or around a desk?”
  • 30 seconds: quiet think time
  • Share responses. 

Activity

  • “Read through each situation and write an equation with a symbol that represents the unknown quantity for each situation. Then, solve and determine the unknown number in each equation. You can solve the problem first or write an equation first depending on what order makes the most sense to you. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.”
  • 7–10 minutes: independent work time
  • Monitor for students who write a division equation and a multiplication equation for the same situation to share during the synthesis.
  • “Now, share your equations and your solutions with your partner. Take turns sharing your equations and solutions.”
  • 3–5 minutes: partner discussion

Student Facing

For each situation:

a.  Write an equation with a symbol for the unknown quantity to represent the situation.

b.  Solve the problem and find the unknown number in the equation. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

  1. Kiran had 32 paper clips. He gave each student 4 paper clips. How many students received paper clips?

    1. Equation: _______________________

    2.  

  2. There are 28 books in 4 stacks. If each stack has the same amount of books, how many books are in each stack?

    1. Equation: _______________________

    2.  

  3. There are 6 boxes. Each box has 8 erasers. How many erasers are there?

    1. Equation: _______________________

    2.  

  4. Lin had 36 sticky notes. She placed 6 sticky notes on each notebook. How many notebooks received sticky notes?

    1. Equation: _______________________

    2.  

Student Response

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Advancing Student Thinking

If students don’t find a solution to the problems, consider asking: “What is this problem about?” and “How could you represent the problem?”

Activity Synthesis

  • Have students share a division equation and a multiplication equation that were written to represent the same division situation and display for all to see.
  • Discuss differences in equations students wrote.
  • Consider asking:
    • “How does each number in the equations represent the situation?”
    • “_____ wrote _____ and _____ wrote _____ to represent the same problem. How are those equations the same and different?” (One of the equations is a division equation, but the other equation is a multiplication equation with an unknown factor. They used different symbols for the unknown amount. Both symbols in the equation represent the missing _____ in the situation.)
  • Have students share strategies they used to solve the problem.

Lesson Synthesis

Lesson Synthesis

Display: \(24 \div 4 = {?}\)

“What would be the related multiplication equation?” (\(4 \times {?} = 24\) or \({?} \times 4 = 24\))

“How are they related?” (The missing number in the division equation is the number of groups or the number in each group and that’s what the missing number in the multiplication equation represents.)

Display: \(4 \times {?} = 28\)

“What would be the related division equation?” (\(28 \div 4 = {?}\))

“How are they related?” (The multiplication equation is missing the number in each group and that is what the quotient represents in the division equation.)

Cool-down: Sharing Roses (5 minutes)

Cool-Down

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