Breaking Down the Solution

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 2 views

Distributing Playground Balls: A Story Problem

In mathematics, story problems are an effective way to apply mathematical concepts to real-life situations. They help students understand the practical application of mathematical equations and develop problem-solving skills. In this article, we will create a story problem to match each of the given equations, focusing on the equation $13 \div 4 = 3 \frac{1}{4}$ .

The gym teacher has 13 playground balls to distribute equally among 4 fourth-grade classrooms. How many balls will each classroom get, and what fraction of the total number of balls will each classroom receive?

To solve this problem, we need to divide the total number of balls (13) by the number of classrooms (4). This will give us the number of balls each classroom will receive.

$13 \div 4 = 3 \frac{1}{4}$

This means that each classroom will get 3 whole balls and $\frac{1}{4}$ of a ball.

Breaking Down the Solution

Let's break down the solution to understand it better.

We have 13 playground balls in total.
We need to distribute these balls equally among 4 fourth-grade classrooms.
To find out how many balls each classroom will get, we divide the total number of balls (13) by the number of classrooms (4).
This gives us a quotient of 3 and a remainder of 1.
The quotient (3) represents the number of whole balls each classroom will get.
The remainder (1) represents the fraction of a ball each classroom will get.

Fraction of the Total Number of Balls

To find the fraction of the total number of balls each classroom will receive, we need to convert the mixed number $3 \frac{1}{4}$ to an improper fraction.

$3 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{3 \times 4 + 1}{4} = \frac{12 + 1}{4} = \frac{13}{4}$

This means that each classroom will receive $\frac{13}{4}$ of the total number of balls.

In conclusion, the story problem we created to match the equation $13 \div 4 = 3 \frac{1}{4}$ is a real-life scenario that requires the application of division and fraction concepts. By solving this problem, students can develop their problem-solving skills and understand the practical application of mathematical equations.

Here are some other story problems that match the given equations:

$2 \times 6 = 12$

Tom has 2 boxes of crayons, and each box contains 6 crayons. How many crayons does Tom have in total?

$5 - 3 = 2$

Sarah has 5 pencils in her pencil case. She gives 3 pencils to her friend. How many pencils does Sarah have left?

$7 + 2 = 9$

John has 7 books on his bookshelf. He adds 2 more books to his collection. How many books does John have now?

$9 \div 3 = 3$

A bakery has 9 loaves of bread to package. They need to package the bread into boxes that can hold 3 loaves each. How many boxes can the bakery fill?

$4 \times 9 = 36$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 4 bags of candy, and each bag contains 9 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$8 - 2 = 6$

Emily has 8 stickers in her sticker book. She gives 2 stickers to her sister. How many stickers does Emily have left?

$6 \div 2 = 3$

A farmer has 6 baskets of apples to distribute among 2 workers. How many baskets of apples will each worker get?

$1 \frac{1}{2} \times 4 = 6$

A craft store has 1 $\frac{1}{2}$ yards of fabric to cut into 4 equal pieces. How many yards of fabric will each piece have?

$9 \div 9 = 1$

A group of friends want to share some money equally. If they have $9 to share, and there are 9 friends, how much money will each friend get?

$3 \times 8 = 24$

A school has 3 classrooms, and each classroom has 8 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$2 \frac{1}{2} \div 2 = 1 \frac{1}{4}$

A recipe calls for 2 $\frac{1}{2}$ cups of flour. If you want to make half the recipe, how many cups of flour will you need?

$6 \times 3 = 18$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 6 bags of candy, and each bag contains 3 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$4 \times 5 = 20$

A school has 4 classrooms, and each classroom has 5 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$1 \frac{1}{2} \times 6 = 9$

A craft store has 1 $\frac{1}{2}$ yards of fabric to cut into 6 equal pieces. How many yards of fabric will each piece have?

$8 \div 2 = 4$

A farmer has 8 baskets of apples to distribute among 2 workers. How many baskets of apples will each worker get?

$3 \times 9 = 27$

A school has 3 classrooms, and each classroom has 9 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$2 \times 9 = 18$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 2 bags of candy, and each bag contains 9 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$5 \times 3 = 15$

A school has 5 classrooms, and each classroom has 3 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$9 \div 3 = 3$

A bakery has 9 loaves of bread to package. They need to package the bread into boxes that can hold 3 loaves each. How many boxes can the bakery fill?

$6 \div 3 = 2$

A farmer has 6 baskets of apples to distribute among 3 workers. How many baskets of apples will each worker get?

$4 \times 6 = 24$

A school has 4 classrooms, and each classroom has 6 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$1 \frac{1}{2} \div 4 = \frac{3}{8}$

A recipe calls for 1 $\frac{1}{2}$ cups of flour. If you want to make a quarter of the recipe, how many cups of flour will you need?

$8 \div 4 = 2$

A farmer has 8 baskets of apples to distribute among 4 workers. How many baskets of apples will each worker get?

$3 \times 8 = 24$

A school has 3 classrooms, and each classroom has 8 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$2 \times 9 = 18$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 2 bags of candy, and each bag contains 9 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$9 \div 9 = 1$

A group of friends want to share some money equally. If they have $9 to share, and there are 9 friends, how much money will each friend get?

$6 \div 6 = 1$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 6 bags of candy, and each bag contains 6 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$4 \times 9 = 36$

A school has 4 classrooms, and each classroom has 9 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$1 \frac{1}{2} \times 3 = 4 \frac{1}{2}$

A craft store has 1 $\frac{1}{2}$ yards of fabric to cut into 3 equal pieces. How many yards of fabric will each piece have?

$8 \div 8 = 1$

A farmer has 8 baskets of apples to distribute among 8 workers. How many baskets of apples will each worker get?

$3 \times 6 = 18$

A school has 3 classrooms, and each classroom has 6 desks. How many desks are there in total?

$2 \times 8 = 16$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 2 bags of candy, and each bag contains 8 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$9 \div 9 = 1$

A group of friends want to share some money equally. If they have $9 to share, and there are 9 friends, how much money will each friend get?

$6 \div 6 = 1$

A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 6 bags of candy, and each bag contains 6 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?

$4 \times 8 = 32$

A school has 4 classrooms, and each classroom has 8 desks
Frequently Asked Questions: Story Problems and Mathematical Equations

In our previous article, we created a story problem to match the equation $13 \div 4 = 3 \frac{1}{4}$ . We also provided additional story problems to match various mathematical equations. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to story problems and mathematical equations.

Q: What is a story problem?

A: A story problem is a real-life scenario that requires the application of mathematical concepts to solve. It is a way to make math more engaging and relevant to everyday life.

Q: Why are story problems important in mathematics?

A: Story problems are essential in mathematics because they help students understand the practical application of mathematical concepts. They develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Q: How do I create a story problem to match a mathematical equation?

A: To create a story problem, you need to:

Identify the mathematical equation you want to match.
Think of a real-life scenario that requires the application of the mathematical concept.
Write a story that incorporates the mathematical equation.
Make sure the story is engaging and relevant to the mathematical concept.

Q: What are some examples of story problems?

A: Here are some examples of story problems:

A bakery has 15 loaves of bread to package. They need to package the bread into boxes that can hold 3 loaves each. How many boxes can the bakery fill?
A group of friends want to share some candy equally. If they have 4 bags of candy, and each bag contains 6 pieces of candy, how many pieces of candy will each friend get?
A farmer has 12 baskets of apples to distribute among 4 workers. How many baskets of apples will each worker get?

Q: How do I solve a story problem?

A: To solve a story problem, you need to:

Read the story carefully and identify the mathematical concept required.
Write down the mathematical equation that matches the story.
Solve the equation using the appropriate mathematical operation.
Check your answer to make sure it makes sense in the context of the story.

Q: What are some tips for creating effective story problems?

A: Here are some tips for creating effective story problems:

Make sure the story is engaging and relevant to the mathematical concept.
Use real-life scenarios that students can relate to.
Make sure the story is clear and concise.
Use visual aids to help students understand the story.

Q: How can I use story problems in the classroom?

A: Here are some ways to use story problems in the classroom:

Use story problems as a warm-up activity to get students thinking about math.
Use story problems as a way to review mathematical concepts.
Use story problems as a way to introduce new mathematical concepts.
Use story problems as a way to assess student understanding of mathematical concepts.

In conclusion, story problems are an essential part of mathematics education. They help students understand the practical application of mathematical concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and communicate effectively. By creating and using story problems in the classroom, teachers can make math more engaging and relevant to everyday life.

Here are some additional resources for creating and using story problems in the classroom:

Story Problem Templates: Use these templates to create your own story problems.
Mathematical Equation Solver: Use this tool to solve mathematical equations and create story problems.
Story Problem Examples: Use these examples to get inspiration for creating your own story problems.
Mathematics Education Resources: Use these resources to learn more about mathematics education and how to use story problems in the classroom.

Here are some references for further reading:

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): This organization provides resources and guidance for mathematics education.
Mathematical Association of America (MAA): This organization provides resources and guidance for mathematics education.
Story Problems in Mathematics Education: This article provides an overview of the use of story problems in mathematics education.

Here are some additional resources for creating and using story problems in the classroom:

Story Problem Templates: Use these templates to create your own story problems.
Mathematical Equation Solver: Use this tool to solve mathematical equations and create story problems.
Story Problem Examples: Use these examples to get inspiration for creating your own story problems.
Mathematics Education Resources: Use these resources to learn more about mathematics education and how to use story problems in the classroom.