Equal Distribution Problem: Dividing 16 Balls into 4 Equal Columns

Q: How do I count the balls accurately in the image?

Count systematically by going row by row or column by column. Point to each ball as you count, or even number them mentally to avoid double-counting or missing any.

Q: What does 'equal distribution' mean exactly?

Equal distribution means each column gets exactly the same number of balls. No column should have more or fewer balls than the others.

Q: Why do we divide instead of subtract?

Division tells us how to share equally. We're splitting 16 balls into 4 equal groups, so we use $ 16 ÷ 4 = 4 $ to find how many go in each group.

Q: Can I solve this by trial and error?

You could, but division is much faster! Trial and error works for small numbers, but learning the division method helps you solve bigger problems quickly.

Q: How do I check if my answer is right?

Multiply your answer by the number of columns: $ 4 \times 4 = 16 $. If you get back to the original total, your answer is correct!

Equal Division with Visual Arrays

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

00:08 First, divide the balls so each column has the same amount.

00:13 Next, we'll move them one by one, following the diagram.

00:39 Let's solve this using math and find the average.

00:48 Add up all the balls, then divide by the number of columns.

01:02 And that's how we find the solution. Great job!

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

Let's work through these steps:
Step 1: Count the balls. We have a total of 12 balls displayed in the image.
Step 2: Count the columns. There are 4 columns shown in the SVG.
Step 3: Divide the total number of balls (12) by the number of columns (4).

Performing the division yields: $\frac{12}{4} = 3$

Therefore, each column will contain 3 balls.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Count Total: Always count all objects in the visual display first
Division Method: Divide total balls by number of columns: $\frac{16}{4} = 4$
Verification: Check that each column gets the same amount: 4 × 4 = 16 total ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Miscounting the total number of balls
Don't rush through counting the balls in the image = wrong total number! Students often miscount overlapping or similarly positioned objects. Always count systematically, marking each ball as you count to ensure accuracy.

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 in the image?

Count systematically by going row by row or column by column. Point to each ball as you count, or even number them mentally to avoid double-counting or missing any.

What does 'equal distribution' mean exactly?

Equal distribution means each column gets exactly the same number of balls. No column should have more or fewer balls than the others.

Why do we divide instead of subtract?

Division tells us how to share equally. We're splitting 16 balls into 4 equal groups, so we use $16 ÷ 4 = 4$ to find how many go in each group.

What if the numbers don't divide evenly?

In real-world equal distribution problems, if numbers don't divide evenly, you might have remainders or need to use fractions. This problem is designed so the balls divide evenly.

Can I solve this by trial and error?

You could, but division is much faster! Trial and error works for small numbers, but learning the division method helps you solve bigger problems quickly.

How do I check if my answer is right?

Multiply your answer by the number of columns: $4 \times 4 = 16$ . If you get back to the original total, your answer is correct!

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