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Math Word Problems Help

Turn word problems into equations and solve them: ages, money, speed and distance, and more.

Read the problem, decide what you are looking for and give it a letter, write an equation from the facts, solve it, then check the answer makes sense in the story.

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Example problems & solutions

Q

Maya has 3 times as many stickers as Leo. Together they have 48. How many does each have?

A
  1. Let Leo’s stickers be s. Then Maya has 3s.
  2. Together: s + 3s = 48, so 4s = 48.
  3. Divide by 4: s = 12. Maya has 3 × 12 = 36.
  4. Check: 12 + 36 = 48. ✓

Answer: Leo has 12 and Maya has 36.

Q

A train travels 180 miles in 3 hours. At the same speed, how far does it go in 5 hours?

A
  1. Speed = distance ÷ time = 180 ÷ 3 = 60 miles per hour.
  2. Distance in 5 hours = 60 × 5 = 300 miles.

Answer: 300 miles

Q

Tickets cost $8 for kids and $12 for adults. A group of 10 people paid $96. How many kids were there?

A
  1. Let k be the number of kids, so there are 10 − k adults.
  2. Cost: 8k + 12(10 − k) = 96.
  3. Simplify: 8k + 120 − 12k = 96, so −4k = −24.
  4. Divide by −4: k = 6. Adults: 10 − 6 = 4.
  5. Check: 6 × 8 + 4 × 12 = 48 + 48 = 96. ✓

Answer: 6 kids (and 4 adults)

Q

The sum of two consecutive numbers is 37. What are they?

A
  1. Let the smaller number be n, so the next one is n + 1.
  2. n + (n + 1) = 37, so 2n + 1 = 37.
  3. Subtract 1: 2n = 36. Divide by 2: n = 18.
  4. The numbers are 18 and 19. Check: 18 + 19 = 37. ✓

Answer: 18 and 19

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to start a word problem?

Work out exactly what the question asks for and call it a letter, such as x. Then list the facts the problem gives you and turn each one into math.

How do I know if my answer is right?

Put it back into the story. If every fact in the problem still holds, for example the totals add up, the answer is right.

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