P4–P5–P6 Factors and multiples
Today’s problem — free all day, every step. Every day has one.
PSLE 2023 — Teams 72 girls 60 boys
Mrs Wong wanted to divide 72 girls and 60 boys equally into as many teams as possible, with every team having the same number of girls and the same number of boys. How many boys were in each team?
The pattern behind it: Factors and multiples
The answer comes from how the numbers divide, not from a bar model.
In this one. If every team must get an equal whole share of both groups, the number of teams has to divide both numbers — so "as many teams as possible" is asking for the HCF.
How to spot it
Words like 'as many teams as possible', 'equally divided with none left over', or 'has exactly this many factors' appear, without any ratio or fraction in sight.
Common mistake
Children reach for the lowest common multiple when the question needs the highest common factor, or try to list every factor of a number by hand instead of building it from its prime factors.
Try one like it
Challenging PSLE 2025 — Sam and ava Sam and Ava have the same amount of money. The amount each had was less than $40. Ava bought some pillows at $8 each and had $3 le…The 33 problem patterns
All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.
A PDF, and a note when new solutions go up.