Word problems: plus and minus
You learn the five steps for solving a word problem.
How to work it out
- Tap the numbers you need.
- Choose the operation: +, −, × or ÷.
- Write the equation.
- Choose how to calculate.
- Check if your answer makes sense.
- 1Numberswhich ones do you need?
- 2What is happening?+ − × :
- 3Write it downthe sum
- 4How?choose how you work it out
- 5Work it outand check it
A worked example
Mia has 6 sweets. Her mum gives her 4 more. How many does she have now?
- Read: I need to find how many Mia has now.
- Numbers: 6 and 4.
- What happens: Mia gets more, that is plus.
- Sum: 6 + 4.
- Work it out: 10.
- Check: does 6 + 4 = 10? Yes.
Watch out
You use every number in the story, even the number of weeks.
For each number, ask yourself: do I need this for the question? If a number is just there, leave it.
You choose the sum because of one word in the story.
Look at what happens: is something added, taken away, is it the same amount each time, or is it shared?
Tips
- The five steps are: read, find the numbers, describe what happens, work out the sum, and check the answer.
Why it works
A word problem has five steps: read (do you know the question?), the numbers (which do you need?), describe (what happens?), work it out (the sum), and check (is the answer right?).