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Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison, e.g., interpret 35 = 5 × 7 as a statement that 35 is 5 times as many as 7 and 7 times as many as 5. Represent verbal statements of multiplicative comparisons as multiplication equations.
Standard #: MAFS.4.OA.1.1Archived Standard
Standard Information
General Information
Subject Area: Mathematics
Grade: 4
Domain-Subdomain: Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Cluster: Level 1: Recall
Cluster: Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems. (Major Cluster) -

Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/14
Content Complexity Rating: Level 1: Recall - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived
Assessed: Yes
Related Courses
Related Resources
Formative Assessments
  • Kate and Her Doll # Students are given a context for a multiplicative comparison and asked to explain the comparison.
  • Pet Snakes # Students discuss the relationship between the lengths of two snakes in a multiplicative comparison problem that includes an equation.
  • Writing an Equation to Match a Word Problem # Students write an equation to match a given word problem.
  • Animal Photographs # Students read a multiplicative comparison word problem and are asked to write an equation that matches the problem.
Lesson Plans
  • Tennis Lessons # This MEA asks students to take on the job of a tennis pro and decide which factors are most important in choosing a facility to take tennis lessons. Students will perform math calculations, create a two-column table for hours and minutes, develop a procedure to rank facilities, and provide written feedback through letters to a parent whose child needs group tennis lessons and writes letters to ask for advice. They will rank their choices from "best to worst" tennis lesson facilities. Students will provide a detailed written explanation for how they decided to rank factors and their solution for rating tennis lesson facilities. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
  • Great Estimations! # In this lesson, students will deepen their knowledge of using equal groups in multiplication and their ability to visualize the quantity of an item in a given object. They will use problem-solving skills and see the value in using benchmarks.
  • "Bar Model Math" - "Twice" as Nice # In this lesson students will solve real world problems that have multiplicative comparisons in them. They will use the strategy of bar models to solve the problems.
Original Student Tutorial
  • Multiplying Math Magic # Learn how to write multiplication equations based on multiplication comparisons and story problems in this magical math online tutorial!
Problem-Solving Tasks
  • Comparing Growth, Variation 2 # The purpose of this task is to assess students’ understanding of multiplicative and additive reasoning. We would hope that students would be able to identify that Student A is just looking at how many feet are being added on, while  Student B is comparing how much the snakes grew in comparison to how long they were to begin with.
  • Comparing Money Raised # The purpose of this task is to give students a better understanding of multiplicative comparison word problems with money. 
  • Comparing Products # The purpose of this task is to generate a classroom discussion that helps students synthesize what they have learned about multiplication in previous grades. It builds on applying properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide and interpreting a multiplication equation as a comparison.
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
  • Tennis Lessons # This MEA asks students to take on the job of a tennis pro and decide which factors are most important in choosing a facility to take tennis lessons. Students will perform math calculations, create a two-column table for hours and minutes, develop a procedure to rank facilities, and provide written feedback through letters to a parent whose child needs group tennis lessons and writes letters to ask for advice. They will rank their choices from "best to worst" tennis lesson facilities. Students will provide a detailed written explanation for how they decided to rank factors and their solution for rating tennis lesson facilities. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
MFAS Formative Assessments
  • Animal Photographs # Students read a multiplicative comparison word problem and are asked to write an equation that matches the problem.
  • Kate and Her Doll # Students are given a context for a multiplicative comparison and asked to explain the comparison.
  • Pet Snakes # Students discuss the relationship between the lengths of two snakes in a multiplicative comparison problem that includes an equation.
  • Writing an Equation to Match a Word Problem # Students write an equation to match a given word problem.
Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5
  • Multiplying Math Magic # Learn how to write multiplication equations based on multiplication comparisons and story problems in this magical math online tutorial!
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