Equal Distribution Problem: Calculate Balls per Column in Grid Table

Q: How do I count the balls accurately when they're scattered?

Count row by row or use a systematic pattern. You can even mark each ball as you count it to avoid double-counting or missing any.

Q: What if the division doesn't come out evenly?

In equal distribution problems, the division must come out evenly! If it doesn't, recheck your counting - you likely missed something or miscounted.

Q: Do I count the grid lines as columns?

No! Count the spaces between the lines, not the lines themselves. If you see 5 vertical lines, there are 4 columns between them.

Q: Can I solve this without division?

You could use repeated subtraction or grouping, but division is much faster: $ \frac{16}{4} = 4 $ gives you the answer immediately!

Q: What does 'equal distribution' actually mean?

Equal distribution means every group gets exactly the same amount - no group has more or fewer items than any other group.

Division with Equal Distribution Problems

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

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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

00:05 We'll transfer according to the diagram one by one

00:22 Now we'll solve mathematically, using average

00:32 We'll sum up all the balls, and divide by the number of columns

00:53 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

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 each column contain?

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the number of balls.
Step 2: Identify the number of columns.
Step 3: Divide the total number of balls by the number of columns to ensure even distribution.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: Count the total number of balls. Visually, there are 16 balls shown in the diagram.
Step 2: Count the number of columns in the grid. There are 4 columns shown.
Step 3: Apply the division formula: $\text{Balls per column} = \frac{16}{4} = 4$ .

Therefore, if the balls are evenly distributed across the columns, each column will contain 4 balls.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Count total items and divide by number of groups
Technique: Use formula: items per group = total ÷ groups = 16 ÷ 4
Check: Multiply answer by groups: 4 × 4 = 16 total balls ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Miscounting the visual elements
Don't rush through counting balls or columns = wrong totals! Students often miscount scattered objects or overlook grid lines. Always count systematically, marking each item as you go.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

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?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I count the balls accurately when they're scattered?

Count row by row or use a systematic pattern. You can even mark each ball as you count it to avoid double-counting or missing any.

What if the division doesn't come out evenly?

In equal distribution problems, the division must come out evenly! If it doesn't, recheck your counting - you likely missed something or miscounted.

Do I count the grid lines as columns?

No! Count the spaces between the lines, not the lines themselves. If you see 5 vertical lines, there are 4 columns between them.

Can I solve this without division?

You could use repeated subtraction or grouping, but division is much faster: $\frac{16}{4} = 4$ gives you the answer immediately!

What does 'equal distribution' actually mean?

Equal distribution means every group gets exactly the same amount - no group has more or fewer items than any other group.

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