Halloween Math & Reading — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
A witch brewed 8 batches of potion with 7 ingredients each. She used 54 ingredients because 8 × 7 = 54.
Corrected: A witch brewed 8 batches of potion with 7 ingredients each. She used 56 ingredients because 8 × 7 = 56.
8 × 7 = 56, not 54. You can verify with the fact family: 8 × 7 and 7 × 8 both equal 56.
2. Fix the sentence:
Dracula shared 72 candies equally among 9 trick-or-treaters. Each child got 7 candies because 72 ÷ 9 = 7.
Corrected: Dracula shared 72 candies equally among 9 trick-or-treaters. Each child got 8 candies because 72 ÷ 9 = 8.
72 ÷ 9 = 8, not 7. Check by multiplying back: 9 × 8 = 72.
3. Fix the sentence:
Mia bought 6 pumpkins at $12 each and one bag of candy for $15. She spent $85 because 6 × 12 = 72 and 72 + 15 = 85.
Corrected: Mia bought 6 pumpkins at $12 each and one bag of candy for $15. She spent $87 because 6 × 12 = 72 and 72 + 15 = 87.
The multiplication 6 × 12 = 72 is correct, but the sum 72 + 15 = 87, not 85. Line up the ones: 2 + 5 = 7 and 7 + 1 = 8.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A spider spins 9 webs with 8 strands each. She uses 72 strands in all.
9 × 8 = 72 strands. You can think (9 × 10) - (9 × 2) = 90 - 18 = 72.
2. A ghost distributes 84 treats equally into 7 bags. Each bag has 12 treats.
84 ÷ 7 = 12. Check by multiplying back: 7 × 12 = 84.
3. Five costumes cost $14 each. The total cost is $70.
5 × $14 = $70. Break it up: (5 × 10) + (5 × 4) = 50 + 20 = 70.
4. A haunted house has 96 candles arranged in 8 equal rows. Each row has 12 candles.
96 ÷ 8 = 12. You can split 96 into 80 ÷ 8 = 10 and 16 ÷ 8 = 2, then add 10 + 2 = 12.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. A skeleton bought 4 bags of candy with 25 pieces each and gave away 36 pieces. How many are left? Show your steps.
Sample answer: Step 1: 4 × 25 = 100 pieces total. Step 2: 100 − 36 = 64 pieces left.
Multi-step problems need multiplication first to find the total (4 × 25 = 100), then subtraction to find what remains (100 - 36 = 64).
2. What does the simile "The night was as dark as a black cat" mean? Explain in your own words.
Sample answer: It means the night was extremely dark. The writer compares the darkness to a black cat to help the reader picture how dark it was.
Similes use 'like' or 'as' to compare two things and create a strong image. Here, 'as' compares the night's darkness to a black cat's dark fur.