operations · Year 4 · AC9M4N08
Multi-step word problems
Draw a bar model before calculating. Draw the whole as one long bar and mark the parts under it. Put a question mark on the part you need. Then decide: to find a whole, add the parts; to find a part, take the other parts from the whole. For equal groups, draw equal units and multiply. When one amount is more than another, take away the extra to make equal units.
Sample questions
A school orders 482 pencils. Year 3 uses 169 pencils and Year 4 uses 234 pencils. How many pencils are left?
- Bar model: the whole bar is 482. The parts that went are 169 and 234; the unknown part is what is left.
- Parts that went: 169 + 234 = 403.
- Unknown part: 482 − 403 = 79.
Answer: 79
A farmer picks 141 apples. She sells 48 apples at the market and gives 35 apples to her neighbours. How many apples does she have left?
- Bar model: the whole bar is 141. The parts that went are 48 and 35; the unknown part is what is left.
- Parts that went: 48 + 35 = 83.
- Unknown part: 141 − 83 = 58.
Answer: 58
A library has 166 books on a shelf. 50 books are borrowed on Monday and 95 books on Tuesday. How many books are still on the shelf?
- Bar model: the whole bar is 166. The parts that went are 50 and 95; the unknown part is what is left.
- Parts that went: 50 + 95 = 145.
- Unknown part: 166 − 145 = 21.
Answer: 21