Word problem: long multiplication and division
22 October 2026
Word problems in long multiplication and division often ask children to find a total and then share it equally. These questions usually involve real-life situations, like splitting pupils into teams or grouping items. Help your child spot when to multiply to find the total, and when to divide to split it into equal groups.
Worked example
A school has 28 classes. Each class has 24 pupils. The pupils are split equally into 8 teams for Sports Day. How many pupils are in each team?
First, find the total number of pupils: 28 × 24
28 × 24 = 672
Now, divide the total by 8 teams: 672 ÷ 8
672 ÷ 8 = 84
The correct answer is 84 pupils in each team.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Total pupils | 28 × 24 | 672 |
| Pupils per team | 672 ÷ 8 | 84 |
After working through this example, your child should recognise when to use multiplication to find a total and division to share that total into equal parts. Similar word problems are ready for practice, supporting their confidence for 11+ maths.
