Multiplication/Division Contextual Problems
There are different types of questions for multiplication and division.
It is important for students to be exposed to each type of problem. Often
textbooks will focus on only one or two types of problems. I am including
this sheet just to give you an idea of the different types of problems. I am
also giving you cards that you can cut out and give to groups or set at a
center. It is fun for students to see their names in problems. You can simply
change the names to reflect students in your room. 
Equal Groups: Whole Unknown (Multiplication)
Mark has 4 bags of apples. There are 6 apples in each bag. How many
apples does Mark have altogether?
If apples cost 7 cents each, how much did Jill have to pay for 5
apples? (Rate)
Peter walked for 3 hours at 4 miles per hour. How far did he walk?
(Rate)
Equal Groups: Size of Groups Unknown (Partition Division)
Mark has 24 apples. He wants to share them equally among his 4
friends. How many apples will each friend receive?
Jill paid 35 cents for 5 apples. What was the cost of 1 apple? (Rate)
Peter walked 12 miles in 3 hours. How many miles per hour (how
fast) did he walk? (Rate)
Equal Groups: Number of Groups Unknown (Measurement Division)
Mark has 24 apples. He put them into bags containing 6 apples each.
How many bags did Mark use?
Jill bought apples at 7 cents apiece. The total cost of her apples was
35 cents. How many apples did Jill buy? (Rate)
Peter walked 12 miles at a rate of 4 miles per hour. How many hours
did it take Peter to walk the 12 miles? (Rate)
Comparison: Product Unknown (Multiplication)
Jill picked 6 apples. Mark picked 4 times as many apples as Jill. How
many apples did Mark pick?
This month Mark saved 5 times as much money as last month. Last
month he saved $7. How much money did Mark save this month?
Comparison: Set Size Unknown (Partition Division)
Mark picked 24 apples. He picked 4 times as many apples as Jill. How
many apples did Jill pick?
This month Mark saved 5 times as much money as he did last month.
If he saved $35 this month, how much did he save last month?
Comparison: Multiplier Unknown (Measurement Division)
Mark picked 24 apples, and Jill picked only 6. How many times as
many apples did Mark pick as Jill did?
This month Mark saved $35. Last month he saved $7. How many
times as much money did he save this month as last?
Mark has 4 bags of
apples. There are 6
apples in each bag.
How many apples
does Mark have
altogether?
If apples cost 7 cents
each, how much did
Jill have to pay for 5
apples?
Peter walked for 3
hours at 4 miles per
hour. How far did he
walk?
Mark has 24
Jill paid 35 cents for
apples. He wants to 5 apples. What was
share them equally the cost of 1 apple?
among his 4
friends. How many
apples will each
friend receive?
Peter walked 12 miles
in 3 hours. How
many miles per hour
(how fast) did he
walk?
Mark has 24
apples. He put
them into bags
containing 6 apples
each. How many
bags did Mark use?
Peter walked 12 miles
at a rate of 4 miles
per hour. How many
hours did it take Peter
to walk the 12 miles?
Jill bought apples at 7
cents apiece. The
total cost of her
apples was 35 cents.
How many apples did
Jill buy?
Jill picked 6 apples.
Mark picked 4
times as many
apples as Jill. How
many apples did
Mark pick?
This month Mark
saved 5 times as
much money as last
month. Last month he
saved $7. How much
money did Mark save
this month?
Mark picked 24
apples. He picked 4
times as many apples
as Jill. How many
apples did Jill pick?
This month Mark
saved 5 times as
much money as he
did last month. If
he saved $35 this
month, how much
did he save last
month?
Mark picked 24
apples, and Jill
picked only 6. How
many times as many
apples did Mark pick
as Jill did?
This month Mark
saved $35. Last
month he saved $7.
How many times as
much money did he
save this month as
last?