Why does one multiplication give two divisions?

Multiplication joins two groups into one total, and division takes the total back apart: you can ask how many groups or how many in each. So 6 × 7 = 42 yields both 42 ÷ 6 = 7 and 42 ÷ 7 = 6.

How can an answer be spotted as wrong at a glance?

Dividing by a number bigger than 1 always gives a smaller answer. If 12 ÷ 3 comes out as 36, multiplication was done instead; with a remainder, check it is smaller than the divisor.

Primary 2 Maths: Multiplication and Division — Practice Paper 3 (10 Questions)

2026-10-29

Tutor Prep Guide · Primary Maths

Paper 3 uses a fresh set of numbers: arrays for “how many groups and how many in each”, the 3, 5 and 10 times tables with division worked back from them, two remainders, bagging sweets, one product written as two divisions, and the divide-reads-as-multiply slip.

Quick answer　10 questions, about 20 minutes. Items 01 to 04 are arrays and the 3, 5 and 10 times tables, items 05 to 07 are division from table facts with two remainders, items 08 and 09 are bagging sweets and one multiplication giving two divisions, and item 10 redoes the mixed-up sign.

01　Paper details (check answers afterwards)

Item	Detail
Questions	10 questions
Suggested time	20 minutes
Difficulty mix	Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1
Chapter	Chapter: Primary 2 Maths: Multiplication and Division — Tutor Lesson Plan
Level	Primary 2

02　Questions (10 items)

FoundationThree rows of 6 counters. How many altogether? Write the multiplication.
FoundationWork out: 3 × 9
FoundationWork out: 10 × 6
FoundationWork out: 5 × 7
IntermediateWork out: 54 ÷ 6
IntermediateWork out 29 ÷ 4 and give the quotient and remainder.
IntermediateWork out 50 ÷ 6 and give the quotient and remainder.
Challenge43 sweets go into bags of 5. How many full bags, and how many sweets are left?
ChallengeGiven 6 × 7 = 42, write the two related division sentences.
Error redoWork out: 12 ÷ 3 (common slip: reading the sign as multiply and answering 36)

03　Answers and one-line notes

#	Answer	One-line note
1	3 × 6 = 18 counters	Three rows of 6 is three 6s: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18, and 6 × 3 gives the same total.
2	27	The 3 times table goes up by 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 — the ninth entry is the answer.
3	60	Multiplying by 10 puts a zero on the end, so 6 becomes 60, and 60 ÷ 10 = 6 goes back.
4	35	The 5 times table goes up by 5 each time, so the seventh entry is 35, and an odd number times 5 always ends in 5.
5	9	Ask “6 times what makes 54”: 6 × 9 = 54, so the answer is 9 with nothing left over.
6	7 remainder 1	4 × 7 = 28 and 29 − 28 = 1, so 7 remainder 1. The 1 is below 4 as it must be, and 4 × 7 + 1 = 29 checks it.
7	8 remainder 2	6 × 8 = 48 and 50 − 48 = 2, so 8 remainder 2; 6 × 9 = 54 is past 50, so the quotient cannot be 9.
8	8 bags with 3 left	5 × 8 = 40 and 43 − 40 = 3, so 8 bags with 3 left; 5 × 9 = 45 is more than 43, so a ninth bag cannot be filled.
9	42 ÷ 6 = 7 and 42 ÷ 7 = 6	One product gives two divisions: 42 shared into 6 groups is 7 each, and 42 in sevens makes 6 groups; 7 × 6 = 42 checks it.
10	4	Division shares 12 into 3 groups of 4, so the answer must be smaller than 12; 36 would be 12 × 3, which is multiplication.

04　What to do after marking

After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.

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