What is Seventy-Two?

S0-SA1-1053

Grade Level:

Pre-School – Class 2

All domains without exception

Definition

What is it?

Seventy-Two is a number that comes after Seventy-One and before Seventy-Three. It is an even number, which means it can be divided into two equal parts without any remainder. We write it as 72.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you have 72 ladoos for a festival! If you share them equally with your friend, each of you would get 36 ladoos. This shows how 72 can be divided.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find out how many groups of 9 we can make from 72.

Step 1: Start with the number 72.

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Step 2: We want to divide 72 by 9. This is written as 72 ÷ 9.

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Step 3: Recall your multiplication tables for 9. We need to find what number multiplied by 9 gives 72.

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Step 4: 9 x 1 = 9
9 x 2 = 18
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9 x 8 = 72

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Step 5: So, 72 divided by 9 is 8.

Answer: You can make 8 groups of 9 from 72.

Why It Matters

Understanding numbers like 72 is fundamental for all of mathematics, from basic counting to complex calculations. It's crucial for careers in finance, engineering, and even managing a small business, where you constantly deal with quantities and measurements.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Confusing 72 with 27. | CORRECTION: Remember that the order of digits matters. 72 means seven tens and two ones, while 27 means two tens and seven ones.

MISTAKE: Thinking 72 is an odd number. | CORRECTION: An even number always ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. Since 72 ends in 2, it is an even number.

MISTAKE: Incorrectly performing multiplication or division with 72. For example, saying 72 divided by 8 is 7. | CORRECTION: Always double-check your multiplication and division facts. 8 x 9 = 72, so 72 divided by 8 is 9.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: If a cricket team scores 72 runs and loses 8 wickets, what is the average number of runs scored per wicket? | ANSWER: 9 runs per wicket (72 ÷ 8 = 9)

QUESTION: Your school bus has 72 seats. If 6 students sit on each row, how many rows are occupied? | ANSWER: 12 rows (72 ÷ 6 = 12)

QUESTION: A shopkeeper has 72 packets of biscuits. Each packet has 4 biscuits. If he sells 120 biscuits, how many biscuits are left? | ANSWER: 168 biscuits (72 x 4 = 288 total biscuits; 288 - 120 = 168 left)

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following statements about 72 is TRUE?

It is an odd number.

It is less than 50.

It is exactly divisible by 9.

It is a prime number.

The Correct Answer Is:

72 is an even number, not odd. It is greater than 50. It is exactly divisible by 9 (9 x 8 = 72). It is not a prime number because it has more than two factors (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72).

Real World Connection

In the Real World

In daily life, 72 appears in many ways. For example, a standard deck of carrom coins has 72 pieces (including strikers). When planning a road trip, you might calculate distances in multiples of 72 km, or a chef might measure 72 grams of a spice for a recipe.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

EVEN NUMBER: A number that can be divided by 2 without a remainder | DIGIT: A single symbol used to write numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) | MULTIPLE: A number that can be divided by another number a certain number of times without a remainder | FACTOR: A number that divides another number exactly

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand 72, you can explore other numbers and their properties, like prime numbers or composite numbers. This will help you build a stronger foundation for understanding more complex mathematical concepts like fractions and decimals.