Multi-Step Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A movie theater has 6 rows of 12 seats. If 29 seats are empty, how many people are watching the movie?
A) 43 people
B) 47 people
C) 39 people
D) 51 people
Multiply first: 6 × 12 = 72 total seats. Then subtract 29 empty: 72 - 29 = 43 people watching.
2. A school orders 8 boxes of 15 notebooks. Teachers hand out 68 notebooks. How many notebooks are left?
A) 42 notebooks
B) 52 notebooks
C) 48 notebooks
D) 58 notebooks
Multiply first: 8 × 15 = 120 notebooks. Then subtract 68 handed out: 120 - 68 = 52 left.
3. A cafeteria prepares 45 sandwiches and 35 salads. They pack meals into boxes of 5. How many boxes do they fill?
A) 14 boxes
B) 18 boxes
C) 16 boxes
D) 12 boxes
Add first: 45 + 35 = 80 meals. Then divide by 5 per box: 80 ÷ 5 = 16 boxes.
4. A toy factory makes 9 batches of 8 action figures and already had 48 in storage. How many action figures are there now?
A) 112 action figures
B) 120 action figures
C) 124 action figures
D) 116 action figures
Multiply first: 9 × 8 = 72 new figures. Then add 48 from storage: 72 + 48 = 120 action figures.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A bookstore has 145 books. It sells 53 on Saturday and 37 on Sunday. There are 55 books left.
Add sales: 53 + 37 = 90 books sold. Then 145 - 90 = 55 books left.
2. A coach buys 7 packs of 12 water bottles. The team drinks 39 bottles. There are 45 bottles remaining.
Multiply first: 7 × 12 = 84 bottles. Then subtract 39 drunk: 84 - 39 = 45 bottles remaining.
3. Two classes collect 64 cans and 56 cans for recycling. They share them equally among 8 bins. Each bin gets 15 cans.
Add first: 64 + 56 = 120 cans. Then divide by 8 bins: 120 ÷ 8 = 15 cans per bin.
4. A baker makes 5 trays of 14 cookies. She decorates 32 cookies with frosting. The rest are plain. There are 38 plain cookies.
Multiply first: 5 × 14 = 70 cookies. Then subtract 32 frosted: 70 - 32 = 38 plain cookies.
5. A garden center has 96 plants. It sells 41 in the morning and gets a shipment of 25 more. It has 80 plants now.
Subtract sales: 96 - 41 = 55 plants. Then add shipment: 55 + 25 = 80 plants now.