When do you multiply and divide in word problems?

In Word problems, you multiply when you're dealing with scenariOS that involve groups, rates, or repeated addition, such as finding the total cost of multiple items or calculating distance over time. You divide when you need to find how many times a number fits into another or when distributing a total amount evenly, such as sharing a sum among a number of people. Identifying keyWords or phrases can also help determine whether to multiply or divide.