There are 5 different colors of gum balls in the gumball machine. There are 39 gumballs of each color. How many gumballs are there in the machine?

Question

I dont know what to do I multiple 5 by 39

Answer 1

Along with learning about operations on numbers (add, subtract, multiply, divide, etc.), you should be learning about units.

 

The problem states that there are 5 colors per machine.  We write that as 5 colors/machine.  And, there are 39 gumballs of each color.  We write that as 39 gumballs/color. So, "How many gumballs are there in the machine?"

 

Gumballs per machine = gumballs/machine

 

   (5 colors/machine)*(39 gumballs/color) = 5*39 gumballs/machine              [note: color cancels out]

     195 gumballs/machine

 

Get the units correct if you want to solve the problem!

Answer 2

Yep, multiplication is the way to go.  The key word that will usually indicate a multiplication or division is "each".  Since there are 39 of each of the 5 colors, we could say there are 39 + 39 + 39 + 39 + 39 gumballs, but 39 x 5 is quicker.