Equal Column Distribution: Arranging Red Balls in a Grid Problem

Division with Equal Distribution

If the balls below are divided so that each column in the table contains an equal number, then how many balls will there be in each column?

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Divide so that each column has an equal number of balls
00:04 We'll transfer one by one according to the diagram
00:32 Now we'll solve mathematically, using average
00:36 We'll sum up all the balls, and divide by the number of columns
00:58 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

If the balls below are divided so that each column in the table contains an equal number, then how many balls will there be in each column?

2

Step-by-step solution

Let's solve this problem step-by-step:

  • Step 1: Count the balls.
    In the provided diagram, we need to count each ball shown to obtain the total number.
  • Step 2: Determine the number of columns.
    The table's columns are evenly spaced, and there appears to be 4 columns depicted.
  • Step 3: Calculate the number of balls per column.
    Divide the total number of balls by the number of columns.

Step 1: Count the balls.

There are 20 balls depicted in the diagram.

Step 2: Determine the number of columns.

There are 4 columns in the table based on the grid lines visible in the diagram.

Step 3: Perform the division.

The formula to find the number of balls per column is: total number of ballsnumber of columns=204=5\frac{\text{total number of balls}}{\text{number of columns}} = \frac{20}{4} = 5.

Thus, there will be 5 balls in each column.

3

Final Answer

5

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Count First: Count all objects before dividing into equal groups
  • Division Formula: Total items ÷ Number of groups = Items per group (20 ÷ 4 = 5)
  • Check: Multiply back: 5 balls × 4 columns = 20 total balls ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Miscounting the total number of objects
    Don't rush through counting or skip objects = wrong total! Missing even one ball gives you the wrong answer when dividing. Always count systematically, marking each object as you go to avoid missing any.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Calculate the average of \( 10 \) and \( 12 \).

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I make sure I count all the balls correctly?

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Count systematically! Go row by row or column by column, and mark each ball as you count it. You can even group them by fives to make counting easier.

What if the balls don't divide evenly?

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In this problem, 20 balls divide evenly into 4 columns (20 ÷ 4 = 5). But if they didn't divide evenly, you'd have remainders - some columns would have one extra ball.

Do I need to actually move the balls into columns?

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No! This is a math problem about division. You just need to calculate how many balls would go in each column: total ballsnumber of columns \frac{\text{total balls}}{\text{number of columns}}

How can I check if my division is correct?

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Use multiplication to check division! Multiply your answer by the number of columns: 5 × 4 = 20. If you get the original total, you're right!

What does 'equal distribution' mean exactly?

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Equal distribution means each column gets the same number of balls. No column can have more or fewer balls than any other column.

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