Use the Four Operations to Solve Word Problems

In this activity, we will work on word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Before starting to solve a word problem, we must check which operation is needed.

Let's take a look at a word problem together. 

Jake has 17 stickers.

Jane has twice as many as Jake.

How many does Jane have?

This question is a multiplication word problem. 

We need to double the number of stickers Jake has, to find out how many Jane has. 

To double a number, we multiply it by 2.

17 × 2 = 34

Jane has 34 stickers. 

Now let's try an example question together.

Example

There are 18 children on a bus.

Three get off and two more get on. Then 10 get off and 4 get on.

How many are left on the bus?

Answer

This is a subtraction problem.

18 - 3 + 2 = 15 + 2 = 17

17 - 10 + 4 = 11

11 children are left on the bus.

Now you're ready to try some questions yourself.