Math/Word Problems

WORD PROBLEMS
Word problems help develop thinking skills in general and math skills in particular. Write an equation with an answer, write the answer in the context of the question, and include a brief explanation for each answer. Some questions can be answered with more than one equation;

some questions cannot be answered with an equation; some questions have more than one acceptable answer.
Example: Christopher made three trips to the store and back. The store is two miles from his house. How far did he walk? 3x2x2=12; Christopher walked 12 miles because each trip was two miles out and two miles back, and he made three trips.

1.

Jennifer wants to buy a new hockey puck that costs $5.25. She has $2.30. She can earn 50 cents an hour by raking leaves. How many hours will she have to work to get the money she needs?

2.

Ryan had $5.00 to spend on lunch. He bought a hamburger for $1.26, potato chips for 65 cents, and two drinks for 85 cents each. How much money did he get back? How much money did he spend?

3.

Brianna has $2.75 and Benjamin has $.65. How much money would Brianna have to give Benjamin so they would have equal amounts?

4.

There are pictures of cats in two overlapping circles. There are seventeen cats in circle A, and fourteen cats in circle B. Seven of the cats are in both circles A and B. How many cats are in the circles altogether? Chelsea is shorter than Aaron and taller than Michelle. Michelle is taller than Jose. Who is the tallest? Danielle was looking at her Halloween candy. She counted seventeen lollipops, four chocolate candy bars, ten white chocolate candy bars, seven caramel candy bars, three apples, and one doughnut. How many candy bars did she have?

5.

6.

- Set G -

2010 abcteach.com

Math/Word Problems

ANSWERS TO WORD PROBLEMS SET G. There is often more than one way to solve a problem. Some of the questions, shown in bold, are brain teasers and you may need to think in different ways to solve them.

1. Jennifer wants to buy a new hockey puck that costs $5.25. She has $2.30. She can earn 50 cents an hour by raking leaves. How many hours will she have to work to get the money she needs?
$5.25 $2.30 = $2.95; this means she must work six hours to earn the money because 6 x $.50 = $3.00

2. Ryan had $5.00 to spend on lunch. He bought a hamburger for $1.26, potato chips for 65 cents, and two drinks for 85 cents each. How much money did he get back? How much money did he spend?
$5 [$1.26 + .65 + (.85 x 2)] = $3.61 spent; $1.39 in change.

3. Brianna has $2.75 and Benjamin has $.65. How much money would Brianna have to give Benjamin so they would have equal amounts?
$2.75 + $.65 = $3.40 / 2 = $1.70 apiece so Brianna would have to give $1.05 to Benjamin ($2.75 - $1.05 = $1.05 + $.65) and then they will both have $1.70.

4. There are pictures of cats in two overlapping circles. There are seventeen cats in circle A, and fourteen cats in circle B. Seven of the cats are in both circles A and B. How many cats are in the circles altogether?
(17 - 7) + (14 7) + 7 = 24 cats altogether

5. Chelsea is shorter than Aaron and taller than Michelle. Michelle is taller than Jose. Who is the tallest?
Aaron, Chelsea, Michelle, Jose; Aaron is the tallest

6. Danielle was looking at her Halloween candy. She counted seventeen lollipops, four chocolate candy bars, ten white chocolate candy bars, seven caramel candy bars, three apples, and one doughnut. How many candy bars did she have?
4 + 10+ 7 = 21 candy bars

2010 abcteach.com