Equal Sharing & Equal Grouping

Get with your partner and take turns taking one or two counters from the pile of 18.

How many counters do you each have?

You should each have 9 counters.

What multiplication fact can we make from this?

2 x n = 18

n = 9

In this example, you knew:

• The total number of counters.

• The number of groups.

This is called Equal Sharing.

You and your partner count out 16 counters. Set the other remaining counters to the side.

How many groups are there?

You should each have 4 groups.

What multiplication fact can we make from this?

n x 4 = 16

n = 4

Count out 4 counters per group.

In this example, you knew:

• The total number of counters.

• The number counters in each group.

This is called Equal Grouping.

Equal _____________: Total number of objects and number of groups are known, but number of objects in each group is unknown.

Sharing

Equal _____________: Total number of objects and number of objects in each group are known, but number of groups is unknown.

Grouping

1. ______ x 3 = 21  

     Did you do equal sharing or equal grouping?

“I Can” Statement:

I can tell the difference between equal sharing and equal grouping and apply it to multiplication facts.