Let's review what you've learned about multiplication word problems. Remember, we will build word families to solve multiplication problems. Start by looking at each sentence in the problem. Then look for clue words such as "each." Let's look at this problem:
There were 6 birds in each nest. There were 11 nests in all of the trees. How many birds were there?
Let's study each sentence.
1) There were 6 birds in each nest.
From this sentence, we can make a number family.
There are more birds than nests, so b (for birds) must be the greater number (larger number). Next, the word "each" clues us in on one lesser number (smaller number). The word after "each" is "nest," so n (for nest) is one lesser number. The other lesser number is 6.
2) There were 11 nests in all of the trees.
This tells us that we should replace n with 11.
3) How many birds were there?
In the number family, the missing number is b. Our equation, then, is 6 times 11 equals b (6 x 11 = b). Let's write this in a column problem:
Multiplying 6 times 11 equals 66 (6 x 11 = 66). There are 66 birds in all.
