- Definition
An "equal-group problem" is when you have several groups that all have the same number of items, and you need to figure out the total or how many groups there are. For example, if each of your child's three friends brings two toys, how many toys are there in total?
If you have 3 bags with 4 apples in each, you have an equal-group problem about finding the total.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: An equal-group problem is like packing lunch bags, where each bag gets the same number of cookies.
Ask your child: How can we share these blocks so everyone gets the same amount?
Common mix-up: Kids might just add the number of groups and the number in each group. The key is to see that you have several groups of the same size.
Examples
- Figuring out how many wheels are on 4 toy cars.
- Sharing 12 crackers fairly among 3 friends.
equal-group problem is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
