Three-step word problems, step by step
Three operations, in an order the question does not state.
The question
How many strawberries does Ines have now?
Ines has 8 sets of 2 strawberries. An uncle sends 11; later, Ines hands 10 to a younger sibling.
8 × 2 = 16
8 × 2 = 16
16 + 11 = 27
8 × 2 = 16
16 + 11 = 27
27 − 10 = 17
8 × 2 = 16
16 + 11 = 27
27 − 10 = 17
17 strawberries
- Read the whole story before calculating. Three things happen in order: first build an amount, then add more, then take some away. Keep one running total so each step starts with the answer from the step before it.
- Step 1: 8 equal groups with 2 in each means multiply. 8 × 2 = 16. This is only the starting total, not the final answer.
- Step 2 starts with 16, the total you just found. The story adds 11 more, so 16 + 11 = 27.
- Step 3 also starts with the latest total. The story takes away 10, so 27 − 10 = 17.
- Now answer the question that was asked: “How many strawberries does Ines have now?” The answer is 17 strawberries.
How it works.
- 01
Read the whole story before calculating. Three things happen in order: first build an amount, then add more, then take some away. Keep one running total so each step starts with the answer from the step before it.
- 02
Step 1: 8 equal groups with 2 in each means multiply. 8 × 2 = 16. This is only the starting total, not the final answer.
- 03
Step 2 starts with 16, the total you just found. The story adds 11 more, so 16 + 11 = 27.
- 04
Step 3 also starts with the latest total. The story takes away 10, so 27 − 10 = 17.
- 05
Now answer the question that was asked: “How many strawberries does Ines have now?” The answer is 17 strawberries.