Times as Many: Multiplication as Comparison
Aligned to 4.OA.A.1 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

What this lesson teaches
A multiplication equation can tell you how many times bigger one amount is than another. Saying 35 = 5 x 7 means 35 is 5 times as many as 7, or 7 times as many as 5.
Worked examples
Example 1
Sara has 4 stickers. Ben has 3 times as many. 'Times as many' means multiply: 3 x 4 = 12. So the equation 12 = 3 x 4 shows Ben has 12 stickers, which is 3 times as many as Sara's 4.
Example 2
A kitten weighs 2 pounds. Its mother weighs 5 times as much: 5 × 2 = 10 pounds.
Example 3
'5 more than 4' is 9, but '5 times as many as 4' is 20. The word 'times' changes the whole problem.
Practice questions
- Write an equation to show that 24 is 4 times as many as 6.
- A dog is 2 years old. Its owner is 6 times as old. Write the equation and find the owner's age.
- There are 40 red beads and 8 blue beads. Write a multiplication equation comparing them, then say it in words.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Veces más: la multiplicación como comparación
Una ecuación de multiplicación puede decir cuántas veces más grande es una cantidad que otra. Decir 35 = 5 x 7 significa que 35 es 5 veces la cantidad de 7, o 7 veces la cantidad de 5.
Ejemplo 1: Sara tiene 4 calcomanías. Ben tiene 3 veces esa cantidad. 'Veces más' significa multiplicar: 3 x 4 = 12. Entonces la ecuación 12 = 3 x 4 muestra que Ben tiene 12 calcomanías, que es 3 veces las 4 de Sara.
Ejemplo 2: Un gatito pesa 2 libras. Su mamá pesa 5 veces eso: 5 × 2 = 10 libras.
Ejemplo 3: '5 más que 4' es 9, pero '5 veces 4' es 20. La palabra 'veces' cambia todo el problema.
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