Equations: Identify Multiplicative Situations . Multiplication and addition are related operations. Both operations involve joining groups to make totals. Multiplicative situations require the groups being joined to have the same number in each group. Additive situations can involve equal groups or not. If an additive situation does involve equal groups then it can be represented using both addition and multiplication symbols e.g. 2 2 2 = 3x2. . Multiplicative thinking underpins many aspect of m