Multiplication Word Problems Up to 99

A multiplication word problem hides a simple equation inside a short story. The trick is not doing the multiplication itself, since numbers up to 99 are usually easy to work with, but figuring out which numbers to multiply in the first place. This lesson walks through how to read the story, find the clue words, and turn everyday situations into equations you can solve.

A multiplication word problem describes several equal-sized groups and asks for the total. It might describe bags of apples, rows of chairs, boxes of pencils, or packs of stickers. Whenever a story has "the same amount in every group" and asks "how many in all," it is asking you to multiply. This is closely related to counting equal groups up to 99, except now the groups are described in words instead of drawn out for you.

Certain words almost always signal multiplication:

• "each," "every," or "per" (5 apples in each bag)
• "groups of," "sets of," or "packs of"
• "rows and columns" or "an array of"
• "in all," "total," or "altogether" in the question

Once you find these clues, look for two numbers in the story: the number of groups, and the number of items in each group. Multiplying those two numbers gives the total.

Every multiplication word problem can be written as \( groups \times items = total \). For example, "6 baskets with 8 oranges in each" becomes \( 6 \times 8 = 48 \). It does not matter which number you call the "groups" and which you call the "items," since multiplication gives the same result either way; this is the idea behind turnarounds, where \( a \times b = b \times a \).

A classroom has 4 tables. Each table holds 6 storybooks. How many storybooks are there in all?

Step 1: Find the clue words. "Each table" tells you the number of items per group is 6. "4 tables" tells you there are 4 groups.

Step 2: Write the equation. \( 4 \times 6 = ? \)

Step 3: Solve. \( 4 \times 6 = 24 \), so there are 24 storybooks in all.

A garden is planted in 7 rows with 9 flowers in each row. How many flowers are in the garden?

This story describes rows and columns, which is an array. See groups and arrays up to 99 for more practice reading array pictures. The equation is \( 7 \times 9 = 63 \), so the garden has 63 flowers.

You can check any multiplication word problem with repeated addition: adding 9 flowers seven times, \( 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 \), also gives 63. You can also check with a turnaround, since \( 9 \times 7 \) gives the same answer as \( 7 \times 9 \). If either check does not match your first answer, re-read the problem to see if you mixed up the number of groups and the number of items.

• Adding the two numbers instead of multiplying them; always check the question for "in each" or "in all" clues.
• Mixing up which number is the group count and which is the item count; remember the total stays the same either way.
• Forgetting units in the answer, such as saying "24" instead of "24 storybooks."
• Rushing past extra information in the story that is not needed to solve the problem.

With practice spotting the clue words and picturing equal groups or arrays, multiplication word problems up to 99 become a matter of finding two numbers and multiplying, not a mystery.

Related lessons

• Math 2