Here are 20+ examples designed especially for Key Stage 2 students! Each example uses simple numbers and fun stories about things you know, like sweets, toys, and sports. We'll show you step-by-step how to solve each problem using the rule of three.
🛍️ Shopping Examples
🍬Example 1: Buying Sweets
Problem: If 2 packets of sweets cost 50p, how much do 5 packets cost?
Solution:
We know: 2 packets = 50p
We want: 5 packets = ?
Set up: 2 packets → 50p, 5 packets → ?
Calculate: (50 × 5) ÷ 2 = 250 ÷ 2 = 125p = £1.25
Answer: 5 packets cost £1.25
🍎Example 2: Buying Apples
Problem: If 3 apples cost 90p, how much do 7 apples cost?
Solution:
We know: 3 apples = 90p
We want: 7 apples = ?
Calculate: (90 × 7) ÷ 3 = 630 ÷ 3 = 210p = £2.10
Answer: 7 apples cost £2.10
📚Example 3: Buying Books
Problem: If 4 books cost £12, how much do 6 books cost?
Solution:
We know: 4 books = £12
We want: 6 books = ?
Calculate: (12 × 6) ÷ 4 = 72 ÷ 4 = £18
Answer: 6 books cost £18
✏️Example 4: Buying Pencils
Problem: If 5 pencils cost 75p, how much do 8 pencils cost?
Solution:
We know: 5 pencils = 75p
We want: 8 pencils = ?
Calculate: (75 × 8) ÷ 5 = 600 ÷ 5 = 120p = £1.20
Answer: 8 pencils cost £1.20
🍳 Cooking Examples
🍪Example 5: Making Cookies
Problem: If a recipe needs 3 cups of flour to make 12 cookies, how many cups of flour are needed for 20 cookies?
Solution:
We know: 3 cups → 12 cookies
We want: ? cups → 20 cookies
Calculate: (3 × 20) ÷ 12 = 60 ÷ 12 = 5 cups
Answer: 5 cups of flour are needed
🥤Example 6: Making Juice
Problem: If 2 glasses of juice need 6 oranges, how many oranges are needed for 8 glasses?
Solution:
We know: 2 glasses = 6 oranges
We want: 8 glasses = ? oranges
Calculate: (6 × 8) ÷ 2 = 48 ÷ 2 = 24 oranges
Answer: 24 oranges are needed
🍕Example 7: Making Pizza
Problem: If 4 pizzas need 2 cups of cheese, how many cups of cheese are needed for 10 pizzas?
Solution:
We know: 4 pizzas = 2 cups
We want: 10 pizzas = ? cups
Calculate: (2 × 10) ÷ 4 = 20 ÷ 4 = 5 cups
Answer: 5 cups of cheese are needed
⚽ Sports Examples
🏃Example 8: Running Race
Problem: If Tom runs 3 laps in 9 minutes, how long will it take him to run 7 laps?
Solution:
We know: 3 laps = 9 minutes
We want: 7 laps = ? minutes
Calculate: (9 × 7) ÷ 3 = 63 ÷ 3 = 21 minutes
Answer: 21 minutes
⚽Example 9: Football Goals
Problem: If a team scores 4 goals in 2 matches, how many goals will they score in 5 matches?
Solution:
We know: 2 matches = 4 goals
We want: 5 matches = ? goals
Calculate: (4 × 5) ÷ 2 = 20 ÷ 2 = 10 goals
Answer: 10 goals
🏊Example 10: Swimming Laps
Problem: If Sarah swims 5 laps in 15 minutes, how long will it take her to swim 12 laps?
Solution:
We know: 5 laps = 15 minutes
We want: 12 laps = ? minutes
Calculate: (15 × 12) ÷ 5 = 180 ÷ 5 = 36 minutes
Answer: 36 minutes
🏫 School Examples
👥Example 11: Sharing Pencils
Problem: If 4 children share 16 pencils equally, how many pencils do 6 children get?
Solution:
We know: 4 children = 16 pencils
We want: 6 children = ? pencils
Calculate: (16 × 6) ÷ 4 = 96 ÷ 4 = 24 pencils
Answer: 24 pencils
📖Example 12: Reading Books
Problem: If Emma reads 3 books in 6 weeks, how many books will she read in 10 weeks?
Solution:
We know: 6 weeks = 3 books
We want: 10 weeks = ? books
Calculate: (3 × 10) ÷ 6 = 30 ÷ 6 = 5 books
Answer: 5 books
🎨Example 13: Art Supplies
Problem: If 5 children need 15 paintbrushes, how many paintbrushes do 8 children need?
Solution:
We know: 5 children = 15 paintbrushes
We want: 8 children = ? paintbrushes
Calculate: (15 × 8) ÷ 5 = 120 ÷ 5 = 24 paintbrushes
Answer: 24 paintbrushes
🧸 Toy Examples
🧸Example 14: Building Blocks
Problem: If 6 blocks make 2 towers, how many blocks are needed for 5 towers?
Solution:
We know: 2 towers = 6 blocks
We want: 5 towers = ? blocks
Calculate: (6 × 5) ÷ 2 = 30 ÷ 2 = 15 blocks
Answer: 15 blocks
🎮Example 15: Game Points
Problem: If 3 games give 9 points, how many points do 7 games give?
Solution:
We know: 3 games = 9 points
We want: 7 games = ? points
Calculate: (9 × 7) ÷ 3 = 63 ÷ 3 = 21 points
Answer: 21 points
🌟 More Fun Examples
🐕Example 16: Walking Dogs
Problem: If 2 dogs need 8 treats, how many treats do 5 dogs need?
Solution:
We know: 2 dogs = 8 treats
We want: 5 dogs = ? treats
Calculate: (8 × 5) ÷ 2 = 40 ÷ 2 = 20 treats
Answer: 20 treats
🌳Example 17: Planting Trees
Problem: If 4 children plant 12 trees, how many trees will 9 children plant?
Solution:
We know: 4 children = 12 trees
We want: 9 children = ? trees
Calculate: (12 × 9) ÷ 4 = 108 ÷ 4 = 27 trees
Answer: 27 trees
🎂Example 18: Birthday Party
Problem: If 3 children eat 9 slices of cake, how many slices will 8 children eat?
Solution:
We know: 3 children = 9 slices
We want: 8 children = ? slices
Calculate: (9 × 8) ÷ 3 = 72 ÷ 3 = 24 slices
Answer: 24 slices
🚗Example 19: Car Journey
Problem: If a car travels 60 miles in 2 hours, how far will it travel in 5 hours?
Solution:
We know: 2 hours = 60 miles
We want: 5 hours = ? miles
Calculate: (60 × 5) ÷ 2 = 300 ÷ 2 = 150 miles
Answer: 150 miles
🎁Example 20: Wrapping Presents
Problem: If 3 presents need 6 metres of wrapping paper, how much paper is needed for 10 presents?
Solution:
We know: 3 presents = 6 metres
We want: 10 presents = ? metres
Calculate: (6 × 10) ÷ 3 = 60 ÷ 3 = 20 metres
Answer: 20 metres
🌺Example 21: Flower Garden
Problem: If 4 flower pots have 16 flowers, how many flowers are in 7 pots?
Solution:
We know: 4 pots = 16 flowers
We want: 7 pots = ? flowers
Calculate: (16 × 7) ÷ 4 = 112 ÷ 4 = 28 flowers
Answer: 28 flowers
🎨Example 22: Colouring Pages
Problem: If 2 children colour 8 pages, how many pages will 6 children colour?
Solution:
We know: 2 children = 8 pages
We want: 6 children = ? pages
Calculate: (8 × 6) ÷ 2 = 48 ÷ 2 = 24 pages
Answer: 24 pages
Try It Yourself!
Now that you've seen these examples, try solving some problems yourself using our Rule of Three Calculator!
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