Multi-Step Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A theater has 8 rows of 9 seats. After 25 people leave, 47 people are still seated.
Multiply first: 8 × 9 = 72 seats filled. Then subtract 25 who leave: 72 - 25 = 47 people seated.
2. Kim picks 36 strawberries and her brother picks 24. They share them equally among 4 baskets. Each basket has 15 strawberries.
Add first: 36 + 24 = 60 strawberries. Then divide: 60 ÷ 4 = 15 strawberries per basket.
3. A bus carries 42 students. At the first stop 18 get off and 11 get on. There are 35 students on the bus.
Subtract those leaving: 42 - 18 = 24 students. Then add those boarding: 24 + 11 = 35 students.
4. A camp has 7 tents with 6 campers each. After 15 campers go home, 27 campers remain.
Multiply first: 7 × 6 = 42 campers. Then subtract 15 who leave: 42 - 15 = 27 campers remain.
5. Emma buys 4 packs of 12 colored pencils. She gives 18 pencils to her sister. She has 30 pencils left.
Multiply first: 4 × 12 = 48 pencils. Then subtract 18 given away: 48 - 18 = 30 pencils left.
6. A school collects 55 cans on Monday and 35 on Tuesday. They pack 9 cans per box and fill 10 boxes.
Add first: 55 + 35 = 90 cans. Then divide by 9 per box: 90 ÷ 9 = 10 boxes.
7. A parking lot has 75 cars. During lunch 30 cars leave and 18 arrive. There are 63 cars now.
Subtract leavers: 75 - 30 = 45 cars. Then add arrivals: 45 + 18 = 63 cars.
8. A farmer plants 6 rows of 8 corn seeds and 14 sunflower seeds. He plants 62 seeds in all.
Multiply first: 6 × 8 = 48 corn seeds. Then add 14 sunflower seeds: 48 + 14 = 62 seeds total.
9. A store has 90 shirts. It sells 32 in the morning and 28 in the afternoon. There are 30 shirts left.
Add sales: 32 + 28 = 60 shirts sold. Then 90 - 60 = 30 shirts left.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
4 × 8 pencils, give away 14
→ 18
60
50 + 30, split into 10 groups
→ 8
8
9 × 5 stars, then add 15
→ 60
25
72 - 28, then subtract 19
→ 25
18
Do each two-step problem in order: 4×8=32 then 32-14=18; 50+30=80 then 80÷10=8; 9×5=45 then 45+15=60; 72-28=44 then 44-19=25.