Making Word Problems Easy: A Collection of Fun Word Problems Larry Wiener Math Chair Mirman School lwiener@mirman.org   CAIS Conference March 3, 2014

Bill runs around a track in 40 seconds Bill runs around a track in 40 seconds. Hillary, running in the opposite direction, meets Bill every 15 seconds. How many seconds does it take Hillary to run a lap?

Going to work, I average 40 miles per hour Going to work, I average 40 miles per hour. My return trip averages 60 miles per hour. What is the average speed for the round trip?

When the escalator is broken, it takes 90 seconds to walk up When the escalator is broken, it takes 90 seconds to walk up. When working, it takes 60 seconds to ride up. How many seconds would it take to walk up the moving escalator?

Larry left his home driving at 55 miles per hour Larry left his home driving at 55 miles per hour. Two hours later, Annick left their home and began chasing after him at a rate of 77 miles per hour. How long did it take her to catch up with Larry?

Two trains departed Union Station at the same time travelling in opposite directions. One train was going 20 miles per hour faster than the other. After two hours, the trains were 360 miles apart. Find each train’s rate.

  In a kayak, Rowan Fast travelled 4 miles against the current in two hours. On his return trip, he rowed with the same current for 30 minutes but was still one mile away from his starting point. Find his rowing speed and the speed of the current.

Two swimmers start at opposite ends of the swimming pool at the same time, passing for the first time 70 feet from one side of the pool. The next time they pass, they are 40 feet from the other end of the pool. How long is the pool?

The sum of two numbers is 60 The sum of two numbers is 60. Twice the larger number is ten less than eight times the smaller number. Find the two numbers.

The sum of five consecutive even numbers is 120 The sum of five consecutive even numbers is 120. Find the largest number.

The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 7:11 The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 7:11. If there are 450 students in the class, find the number of boys and girls in the class.

The ratio of the angles in a triangle is 2:3:4 The ratio of the angles in a triangle is 2:3:4. Find the measure of the three angles.

The selling price of a flat screen allows for 30% profit on the cost The selling price of a flat screen allows for 30% profit on the cost. Inflation demands that the price be increased another 25%. If the new selling price is $195, find the cost.

Last year, the weekly cost of food was $150 Last year, the weekly cost of food was $150. This year, the weekly cost is $200. What is the percent increase in cost?

If an employee receives a 10% pay cut, what percent raise must she/he receive to return to the original pay?

A discount of 25% followed by another discount of 30% is equal to a single discount of what percent?

Rose can do the job alone in 4 hours Rose can do the job alone in 4 hours. Bob can do the same job in 3 hours and Shelley can do it in 5 hours. How long will it take the three to do the job?

Working together, Mike and Ike can do the job in 7 hours Working together, Mike and Ike can do the job in 7 hours. Mike can do the job alone in 10 hours. How long would it take Ike to do the job alone?

Working together, Moe and Flo can do the job in 3 hours Working together, Moe and Flo can do the job in 3 hours. Moe can do the job 4 times faster than Flo. How long would it take each of them to work alone?

It takes 50 minutes to fill an empty bathtub with the drain closed It takes 50 minutes to fill an empty bathtub with the drain closed. It takes 70 minutes to drain a filled bathtub. How long would it take to fill an empty bathtub with the drain opened?

How many ml of a 20% acid solution and a 45% acid solution should be mixed to obtain 100ml of a 30% acid solution?

How many liters of water should be added to 9 liters of a 40% acid solution to make a 30% acid solution?

I have 5 gallons of a 40% antifreeze solution I have 5 gallons of a 40% antifreeze solution. How many gallons do I need to pour out and replace with pure antifreeze to obtain 60% antifreeze solution?

How many different ways can you go up a staircase of ten steps if you may only go up one or two steps at a time?