A Plan for Every Problem
Word problems describe a situation in words. Your job is to find the hidden math.
Use these four steps every time:
- Read carefully — what is the question actually asking for?
- Find the important numbers and the action words (clue words).
- Choose an operation (+, −, ×, ÷) and write a number sentence.
- Solve, then check that your answer makes sense.
Clue Words
Certain words hint at which operation to use:
| Operation | Clue words |
|---|
| ➕ Add | sum, total, altogether, combined, in all, more than |
| ➖ Subtract | difference, fewer, less than, left, remain, how many more |
| ✖️ Multiply | product, times, each, per, groups of, double, twice |
| ➗ Divide | quotient, share, split, each group, per, half, average |
⚠️ Clue words are helpful, but always think about the
story — they don't work 100% of the time!
Worked Examples
One-step: Maya has 12 stickers and buys 9 more. How many now?
Clue word "more" → add: \(12 + 9 = 21\) stickers.
Multiplication: A box holds 6 cans. How many cans are in 7 boxes?
"each / groups of" → multiply: \(6 \times 7 = 42\) cans.
Two-step: Sam buys 3 pens at $2 each and pays with $10.
How much change does he get?
Step 1 — cost: \(3 \times 2 = 6\) dollars.
Step 2 — change: \(10 - 6 = 4\) dollars.
Tips
- Underline the question and circle the numbers.
- Draw a quick picture or bar model if you're stuck.
- Watch your units — dollars, minutes, apples — and label the answer.
- Estimate first, then check your exact answer against the estimate.