If you have 3 groups of 4 apples each, how many apples total?

If you have 3 groups of 4 apples each, how many apples total?

• A. 12
• B. 7
• C. 8
• D. 16

Answer: (A)

Think of three groups, each with four apples. To find the total, add the apples in each group: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. Another way to see it is to use multiplication: three groups of four is 3 × 4, which also equals 12. You can count by fours—4, 8, 12—to reach the same total. The other numbers don’t match the total when you have three groups of four.

Think of three groups, each with four apples. To find the total, add the apples in each group: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. Another way to see it is to use multiplication: three groups of four is 3 × 4, which also equals 12. You can count by fours—4, 8, 12—to reach the same total. The other numbers don’t match the total when you have three groups of four.