Become a word problem detective! Learn to read problems carefully, find key words, choose addition or subtraction, solve the problem, and check your answer. Turn words into math! 🔍📝
Learn to solve real-world math problems step by step!
Learn to spot words that tell you which operation to use!
Click all correct options
Decide whether to add or subtract based on the problem!
Practice solving real-world addition word problems!
Practice solving real-world subtraction word problems!
Put the problem-solving steps in the correct order!
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Explore 10 essential knowledge cards about solving word problems!
A word problem is a math question written as a story or real-life situation! Instead of seeing '5 + 3 = ?', you read about Tom and his toy cars. Word problems require two skills: (1) Understanding what the problem is asking, and (2) Doing the math to find the answer. They're called 'word' problems because they use WORDS to describe situations, not just numbers. Word problems help you see how math is used in real life!
A story that has a math question hidden inside
Example: 'Tom has 5 toy cars. He gets 3 more. How many does he have now?'
Real-world situations turned into math questions
You need to figure out WHAT to do (add or subtract), THEN do it
Word problems connect math to everyday life!
Read the problem at least TWICE! First time: understand the story. Second time: look for numbers and key words. Slow and careful beats fast and wrong!
Just grabbing numbers and doing any operation! You must understand the STORY first. What's happening? Are things being combined (add) or removed (subtract)?
Every time you figure out how much money you have, how many cookies to share, how much time until something - you're solving word problems!
Make your own word problems! Write a story using your toys, snacks, or friends. Ask: 'How many in all?' or 'How many are left?' Practice creating problems, not just solving them!
Reading carefully is the MOST important step in solving word problems! Read slowly, at least twice. First reading: understand the story - what's happening? Second reading: look for numbers and key words. Try to picture the situation in your mind like a movie. Find the question (often at the end): What is it asking you to find? Identify what you START with, what CHANGES (more added? some removed?), and what you need to FIND. Careful reading prevents silly mistakes!
Read the problem at least 2 times (first: understand, second: find clues)
Visualize the story (picture it in your mind)
Underline or circle important numbers
Look for the question (What is it asking?)
Identify what you START with and what CHANGES
Cover up the numbers first! Read the story without numbers to understand WHAT'S HAPPENING. Then uncover the numbers and connect them to the story!
Racing through too fast! Many mistakes happen because students don't fully understand the problem before trying to solve it. SLOW DOWN!
Careful reading helps everywhere: following recipes, reading instructions, understanding rules, taking tests - not just in math!
Story retelling! After reading a word problem, tell the story in your own words WITHOUT looking. If you can retell it, you understand it! 'There's a boy, he has some cars, he gets more cars...'!
Addition key words are clues that tell you to ADD! Words like 'total', 'altogether', 'in all', and 'sum' mean you're finding the whole amount by combining parts. Words like 'more', 'gained', 'received', and 'added' mean something is being ADDED to what you already have. Words like 'combined' and 'together' mean you're putting separate groups into one big group. These key words are like road signs pointing you toward addition! Learning to spot them makes word problems much easier!
Total, altogether, in all, sum - means find the whole amount
More, gained, received, added - means getting something extra
Combined, together - means putting groups together
Example: 'How many in all?' → ADDITION
Example: 'She gets 5 more' → ADDITION
Make flashcards with addition key words! Practice spotting them in problems. The faster you recognize the key words, the faster you'll know which operation to use!
Missing key words because you're reading too fast! Key words might be anywhere in the problem. Read carefully and underline them!
Shopping: 'If I buy this AND this, how much in total?' Collecting: 'I have 10 cards and get 5 more, how many altogether?' Cooking: 'Recipe needs 2 cups flour plus 3 cups sugar - how many cups combined?'
Key word hunt! Read 5 word problems and highlight only the addition key words. Don't solve yet - just practice spotting the clues!
Subtraction key words are clues that tell you to SUBTRACT! Words like 'left', 'remaining', and 'left over' mean something was removed and you need to find what stays. Words like 'less', 'fewer', and 'minus' mean taking away. Words like 'difference' and 'how many more' mean comparing two amounts (which requires subtraction). These key words indicate situations where something is removed, eaten, given away, or compared. Spotting subtraction key words helps you solve problems correctly!
Left, remaining, left over - means what stays after removal
Less, fewer, minus - means taking away
Difference, how many more - means comparing amounts
Example: 'How many are left?' → SUBTRACTION
Example: 'How many fewer?' → SUBTRACTION
Think 'removal' or 'comparison'! Subtraction happens when things are taken away OR when you're comparing who has more. Both use subtraction!
Confusing 'how many more' with addition! 'How many MORE does he have?' sounds like more, but it's actually COMPARING (subtraction). Example: Sarah has 10, Tom has 7. How many more does Sarah have? 10 - 7 = 3!
Eating: 'Had 10 cookies, ate 3, how many left?' Shopping: 'Had $20, spent $12, how much remaining?' Games: 'Started with 15 points, lost 8, how many do I have now?'
Before and after! Draw problems: 'Started with 12 apples' (draw 12), 'Ate 5' (cross out 5), 'How many left?' (count remaining). Visual subtraction!
The 4-Step Method is your roadmap for solving ANY word problem! STEP 1: READ carefully - understand what's happening in the story. STEP 2: FIND key words and choose the operation - circle numbers, underline key words, decide add or subtract. STEP 3: SOLVE - write the number sentence (like 15 + 7 = ?) and calculate the answer. STEP 4: CHECK - read the problem again with your answer. Does it make sense? Following these steps in order helps you solve problems accurately and builds lifelong problem-solving skills!
Step 1: READ carefully (understand the story)
Step 2: FIND key words and choose operation (add or subtract?)
Step 3: SOLVE the problem (write the number sentence and calculate)
Step 4: CHECK your answer (does it make sense?)
Following steps prevents mistakes and builds good habits!
Write the steps on a bookmark! Keep it nearby when doing homework. Check off each step as you complete it. The steps become automatic with practice!
Skipping Step 4 (checking)! Always read the problem again with your answer: 'Does this make sense?' Checking catches silly mistakes!
These steps work for ALL problems - not just math! Fixing something? Deciding what to wear? Planning an activity? Read→Plan→Do→Check applies everywhere!
Step-by-step practice! Solve 3 word problems, but write out EACH STEP: (1) What's happening? (2) Add or subtract? (3) Number sentence and answer. (4) Check! Show your thinking process!
Drawing pictures is a POWERFUL problem-solving strategy! You don't need to be an artist - simple circles, squares, or stick figures work perfectly. For ADDITION problems: draw the first group, draw the second group, count all the shapes together. For SUBTRACTION problems: draw all items, then cross out what's removed or given away, count what remains. Drawing makes abstract word problems concrete and visual. It helps you SEE what's happening in the story. Many students who struggle with word problems succeed once they start drawing!
Draw circles, squares, or simple shapes for objects
Addition: draw first group, draw second group, count all
Subtraction: draw all items, cross out what's removed, count what's left
Pictures don't have to be fancy - simple shapes work great!
Drawing helps you VISUALIZE the problem
Use simple shapes! Circles, squares, or tallies (||||) work great. Don't waste time drawing detailed pictures - simple and quick is best!
Thinking you're 'too old' to draw! Professional mathematicians and scientists draw pictures all the time. Drawing is a smart strategy at ANY age!
Engineers draw diagrams. Architects draw plans. Scientists draw models. Artists draw sketches. Drawing to understand is a professional skill used everywhere!
Picture-first method! For the next 5 word problems, draw FIRST, calculate SECOND. See how drawing helps you understand and solve correctly!
A number sentence is the math equation you create from a word problem! It translates the WORDS into MATH SYMBOLS. Read the problem and identify: (1) Starting amount (first number), (2) Action (+ or -), (3) Change amount (second number), (4) Result (answer). Example: 'Tom has 8 marbles. He gets 5 more. How many now?' → Starting: 8, Action: gets more (+), Change: 5, Result: ? So: 8 + 5 = ?. Writing number sentences bridges the gap between word problems and calculations!
Number sentence = the math equation from the word problem
Example: 'She has 5 apples and gets 3 more' → 5 + 3 = 8
Example: 'He had 12 toys and gave away 4' → 12 - 4 = 8
Number sentence shows: Start __ Action __ Result
It translates words into math symbols
Say it out loud first! Before writing, say: 'Eight plus five equals question mark'. Saying it helps you write it correctly!
Numbers in wrong order for subtraction! In subtraction, order matters. 'Had 10, ate 3' is 10 - 3, NOT 3 - 10. Start with what you HAD, subtract what changed!
Every real-life calculation starts as a 'word problem' in your head that you translate to math! Shopping, cooking, planning - all require this skill!
Translation practice! Read 5 word problems. Write ONLY the number sentence for each (don't solve yet). Practice translating words to symbols!
Checking your answer is the last step but SO IMPORTANT! First, read the problem again with your answer: 'Tom had 8 marbles and got 5 more, so now he has 13 marbles.' Does that make sense? Second, ask if your answer is reasonable - not impossibly big or small. Third, do a reverse check: if you added, subtract to check; if you subtracted, add to check. Example: Solved 8 + 5 = 13? Check: 13 - 5 = 8 ✓ Correct! This catches silly mistakes and builds confidence!
Read the problem again WITH your answer - does it make sense?
Check: Is your answer reasonable? (Too big? Too small?)
Reverse check: Addition → use subtraction. Subtraction → use addition
Example: If 8 + 5 = 13, check: 13 - 5 = 8 ✓
Example: If 12 - 4 = 8, check: 8 + 4 = 12 ✓
Trust but verify! Even if you THINK you're right, always check. Checking takes 10 seconds and prevents losing points on tests!
Skipping checking because you're 'sure' you're right! Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Checking is a habit of successful math students!
Doctors check diagnoses twice. Pilots check equipment twice. Engineers check calculations twice. Checking is a professional habit in ALL fields!
Check-only practice! Take 5 problems you've already solved. Don't resolve - just CHECK each answer using the reverse operation. Did you catch any mistakes?
Word problems describe real-life situations, and these situations follow patterns! JOINING situations (things coming together) use addition: 'More guests arrive', 'She gets more toys'. SEPARATING situations (things leaving) use subtraction: 'Cookies eaten', 'Birds fly away'. COMPARING situations (who has more?) use subtraction: 'How many more does Sarah have?' PART-PART-WHOLE situations (combining groups) use addition: 'Boys and girls in the class'. Recognizing these situation types helps you quickly know which operation to use!
Joining: Start with some, more join → ADD (party guests arriving)
Separating: Start with some, some leave → SUBTRACT (cookies eaten)
Comparing: Who has more? How many more? → SUBTRACT (comparing collections)
Part-Part-Whole: Two parts make a whole → ADD (combine groups)
Real situations follow patterns - learn the patterns!
Look for the ACTION! What's happening in the story? Things joining together = add. Things leaving or comparing = subtract. The action tells you the operation!
Getting fooled by the word 'more'! 'How many MORE' (comparing) uses subtraction. But 'gets more' (receiving) uses addition. Context matters!
These situations are everywhere! Joining: people arriving at a party. Separating: spending money. Comparing: sports scores. Part-whole: combining ingredients in recipes!
Situation sorting! Get 10 word problems. Don't solve them - just identify the situation type: Joining? Separating? Comparing? Part-whole? Recognizing patterns builds speed!
Word problems aren't just for school - they're EVERYWHERE in real life! Shopping (finding totals and change), sharing food (how many for each person), collecting things (comparing amounts), planning time (how long until something), playing games (keeping score) - all involve word problems! The better you get at school word problems, the better you'll be at handling real-life math situations. Math isn't just numbers on paper - it's a tool for navigating the real world successfully!
Shopping: 'I bought 2 items for $5 and $3. How much in total?'
Snacks: 'Had 15 candies, shared 8. How many left?'
Collections: 'I have 12 cards, friend has 8. How many more do I have?'
Time: 'School starts at 9, it's 7 now. How many hours until school?'
Every day has math word problems!
Spot real-life word problems! Throughout your day, notice when you're solving math in words: 'How many more minutes until...?' 'How much does this cost?' 'How many left?' You're doing word problems all day!
Thinking word problems are 'school stuff' unrelated to real life! Actually, adults solve word problems constantly - they just don't write them down!
Literally everything involving numbers, decisions, planning, or comparing uses the same skills you practice in word problems!
Create your own real-life word problems! Write 3 problems about your actual day: toys you have, snacks you ate, minutes you played, etc. Make math personal!