What is a word problem?
A word problem tells a little story with numbers. Your job is to read it, understand what it asks, and pick the right operation: add (+), subtract (−), multiply (×) or divide (÷). Some problems need one step, and some need two steps.
Key idea
Use 4 easy steps: (1) Understand what is asked, (2) Plan which operation to use, (3) Solve it, (4) Check your answer.
Which operation should I use?
Look for clue words in the story to help you decide.
- Add when you put groups together or find a total.
- Subtract when you take away, spend, or find how many are left.
- Multiply for equal groups repeated many times.
- Divide when you share equally into groups.
Worked example
A shop has 45 buns. It sells 28 buns. How many buns are left?
Understand: find how many are left. Plan: we take some away, so subtract. Solve: 45 − 28 = 17. Check: 17 + 28 = 45. Correct! There are 17 buns left.
Remember
- Read the question twice before you start.
- Write the number sentence before you count.
- For a two-step problem, do one step at a time.
- Always check your answer at the end.