Math/Word Problems

2010 abcteach.com

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. J ennifer 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?


5. Chelsea is shorter than Aaron and taller than Michelle. Michelle is taller than J ose.
Who 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?

- Set G -
Math/Word Problems

2010 abcteach.com

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. J ennifer 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
J ose. Who is the tallest?

Aaron, Chelsea, Michelle, J ose; 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