Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers: word problems

key notes :-

➕ Addition in Word Problems

  • Use addition when things are joined, combined, or put together. 🤝
  • Keywords: total, sum, altogether, in all. 🧮
  • Example: Ravi has 45 marbles, and his friend gives 20 more. How many now?
    👉 45 + 20 = 65 🎉

➖ Subtraction in Word Problems

  • Use subtraction when something is taken away, lost, or you need to find the difference. ❌
  • Keywords: left, remaining, difference, fewer. 📉
  • Example: Out of 80 apples, 25 were sold. How many are left?
    👉 80 – 25 = 55 🍎

✖️ Multiplication in Word Problems

  • Use multiplication when there are equal groups, repeated addition, or arrays. 📦📦
  • Keywords: each, every, times, groups of.
  • Example: A pack has 6 pencils. If there are 8 packs, how many pencils?
    👉 6 × 8 = 48 ✏️

➗ Division in Word Problems

  • Use division when things are shared, split, or grouped equally. 🍰
  • Keywords: each, per, shared, distributed, equal groups.
  • Example: 36 chocolates shared among 6 friends.
    👉 36 ÷ 6 = 6 🍫

🎯 Steps to Solve Any Word Problem

📝 Step 1: Read carefully

Look at what is being asked. 👀

✏️ Step 2: Underline keywords

Find clues like “total”, “left”, “each”, “shared”. 🖍️

🧩 Step 3: Choose the correct operation

Addition? Subtraction? Multiplication? Division?

🔢 Step 4: Write the equation

Turn the story into numbers!

🧠 Step 5: Solve and check

Make sure your answer makes sense. ✔️✨

🎒 Mixed Operation Tips

  • Do not rush! Some problems need two steps. 🪜
  • Example:
    1️⃣ Find total pencils.
    2️⃣ Share them among friends.
  • Keep track of each step clearly. 🔍

⭐ Common Word Problem Triggers

OperationKeywordsEmoji
Addition ➕total, in all, sum, altogether🎉
Subtraction ➖left, difference, less, remain❌
Multiplication ✖️groups of, times, each, every📦
Division ➗shared, per, equal groups, distribute🍰

🎉 Why Word Problems Matter?

  • They connect maths to real life. 🏡
  • Improve thinking and reasoning. 🧠✨
  • Help students become confident problem solvers! 🦸‍♂️📘

Learn with an example

📖 A multi-national company has 910 part-time employees and 22,535 full-time employees.

How many employees work for the company?

​ _______employees

  • Add the number of part-time employees and the number of full-time employees.
  • Add the ones. Add 5 + 0.
  • Add the tens. Add 3 + 1.
  • Add the hundreds. Add 5 + 9. Remember to carry over.
  • Add the ten thousands. Bring down the 2.
  • The sum is 23,445. A total of 23,445 employees work for the company.

📖 The school party committee has ₹152 to buy ice cream. If each carton of ice cream costs ₹8.

How many cartons can the committee buy?

​ ______cartons

  • Divide the amount of money by the cost of each carton of ice cream.
  • The committee can buy 19 cartons.

📖 A basketball league wants to order 90 T-shirts for the teams. If there are 3 T-shirts in each package.

How many packages of T-shirts should the league order?

​________ packages

  • Divide the number of T-shirts by the number in each package.
  • The league should order 30 packages of T-shirts.

Let’s practice! 🖊️