Multi-Step Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Sam has 3 bags with 5 apples each. He eats 2 apples. Sam has 17 apples left.
Corrected: Sam has 3 bags with 5 apples each. He eats 2 apples. Sam has 13 apples left.
First multiply: 3 × 5 = 15 apples total. Then subtract the 2 eaten: 15 - 2 = 13 apples left, not 17.
2. Fix the sentence:
Mia buys 4 packs of 6 stickers and gives away 8. She has 22 stickers left.
Corrected: Mia buys 4 packs of 6 stickers and gives away 8. She has 16 stickers left.
Start with 4 × 6 = 24 stickers. Then subtract the 8 given away: 24 - 8 = 16, not 22.
3. Fix the sentence:
Tom has 25 cards and gets 10 more. He splits them into 5 equal piles of 5 cards each.
Corrected: Tom has 25 cards and gets 10 more. He splits them into 5 equal piles of 7 cards each.
Add first: 25 + 10 = 35 cards. Then divide by 5 piles: 35 ÷ 5 = 7 cards per pile, not 5.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A store sold 8 hats in the morning and 7 in the afternoon. If each hat costs $2, the store earned $30.
First add: 8 + 7 = 15 hats sold. Then multiply by the price: 15 × $2 = $30.
2. Jake has 4 boxes of 6 crayons. He gives 9 crayons away. He has 15 crayons left.
Multiply first: 4 × 6 = 24 crayons. Then subtract 9: 24 - 9 = 15 crayons left.
3. Emma has 50 beads. She uses 12 for a bracelet and 15 for a necklace. She has 23 beads left.
Add what she used: 12 + 15 = 27 beads. Then subtract from 50: 50 - 27 = 23 beads left.
4. There are 3 rows of 9 chairs. The teacher adds 5 more chairs. There are 32 chairs in all.
Multiply first: 3 × 9 = 27 chairs. Then add 5 more: 27 + 5 = 32 chairs total.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. Ben has 5 packs of 4 pencils and 3 loose pencils. He has 23 pencils in all.
True False
5 × 4 = 20 pencils in packs, then 20 + 3 loose = 23 pencils. The statement is correct.
2. Lily has 30 stickers. She gives 8 to Amy and 6 to Noah. She has 18 stickers left.
True False
She gives away 8 + 6 = 14 stickers. Then 30 - 14 = 16 stickers left, not 18.
3. A bakery makes 6 trays of 3 muffins and has 12 muffins already. It has 30 muffins total.
True False
6 × 3 = 18 new muffins, then 18 + 12 = 30 total muffins. The statement is correct.