You're right to look for the "trick" problem! Let's solve each one and identify which one is different.
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Problem 1:
> A pack of pens contains 6 pens. How many pens in 7 packs?
This is multiplication: 6 pens/pack × 7 packs =
42 pens
✔ Multiplication problem.
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Problem 2:
> How many wheels on 12 cars?
Assuming each car has 4 wheels: 4 wheels/car × 12 cars =
48 wheels
✔ Multiplication problem.
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Problem 3:
> A paperclip is made from 10cm of wire. How much wire would I need for 11 paperclips?
10 cm/paperclip × 11 paperclips =
110 cm of wire
✔ Multiplication problem.
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Problem 4:
> Sally runs for 3 miles a day. How far will she run in 2 weeks?
First, convert weeks to days: 2 weeks = 14 days
Then multiply: 3 miles/day × 14 days =
42 miles
✔ Multiplication problem.
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Problem 5:
> I buy 12 apples on Monday, and 7 more on Tuesday. How many have I bought in total?
This is
addition, not multiplication: 12 + 7 =
19 apples
✘ This is the TRICK PROBLEM! It asks for a total from two separate amounts — it’s an addition problem, even though the worksheet is titled “Multiplication Problems.”
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Problem 6:
> A multipack bag of crisps holds 6 packets. How many packs of crisps in 12 multipacks?
6 packets/multipack × 12 multipacks =
72 packets
✔ Multiplication problem.
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Problem 7:
> It takes a rocket 7 seconds to travel a mile. How long would it take the rocket to go 14 miles at that speed?
7 seconds/mile × 14 miles =
98 seconds
✔ Multiplication problem.
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✔ Final Answer:
The trick problem is #5: “I buy 12 apples on Monday, and 7 more on Tuesday. How many have I bought in total?”
It’s not a multiplication problem — it’s an
addition problem (12 + 7 = 19).
All the others involve multiplying a rate or quantity by a number of groups or units. Problem 5 simply adds two separate quantities together.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 4th grade math worksheet multiplication word problems.
