Recognizing Key Words Solving Word Problems

Addition Key Words Add And Altogether Both In all Increased More Plus Sum Total

Subtraction Key Words Change (money received) Decrease Difference Left Lose (or lost) More…than Reduce (or reduction)

Subtraction Key Words Remain (or remaining) Nearer/farther (and other –er comparison words)

Multiplication Key Words Altogether In all Of Multiply Product Times Total Twice Whole

Division Key Words Average Cut Divide (d) Each Equal pieces Every One

Division Key Words Shared (d) Single Split

Finding Necessary Information The first step in solving a word problem is understanding what the question asks you to find. The second step is deciding what information is needed to answer the question.

What Is Necessary Information? Given information includes all of the numbers and labels that appear in a problem. Necessary information includes only those numbers and labels needed to answer a specific question.

In each problem, determine what you are being asked to find. What is the total price of a quart of milk that costs $0.95 and a loaf of bread that costs $2.09? Answer: What is the total price of a quart of milk…and a loaf of bread. $0.95, $2.09

While shopping on Tuesday, Juanita bought a dress for $44.95, a skirt for $25, a picture for $19.75, and a glass bowl for $ What amount did she spend for the clothes? Answer: What amount did she spend for clothes? $44.95, $25

Brenda has lost 13 pounds on her diet. Her weight dropped from 167 pounds to 154 pounds. If she still wants to lose 14 more pounds, how much does Brenda want to lose in all? Answer: How much does Brenda want to lose in all? 13 pounds, 14 pounds

In Canyonville there are 23, 458 registered voters. Of these, 13,228 are men and 10,230 are women. During the November election, 4,572 men voted. If 6,385 women also voted, how many people voted in this election? Answer: How many people voted in this election? 4,572;6,385

Practice makes perfect… At Papa Smurf’s Grocery, Tra bought hamburger for $3.58, a gallon of milk for $1.89, and a box of cereal for $2.79. If he paid the clerk with a twenty-dollar bill, how much change did he receive? Solution: change=$20 minus total cost of groceries.

Crystal, Tra, Kassie, Hallee Berry and Omarion agreed to split the cost of dinner evenly. Together they had a pizza for $12.75, drinks for $4.30, and salads for $9.45. What was each person’s share of the bill? Solution: each share= total cost divided by 5

During a “TV Special” sale, Uptown Music Company shipped 1,238 boxes of compact discs. If each box held 13 compact discs, how many compact discs were shipped in all? Solution: total compact discs= total boxes shipped times compact discs.

Craig drove his car an average of 1,154 miles each month last year. During the first three months this year, he has driven 954 miles, 876 miles, and 1,105 miles. What number of miles has he put on his car so far this year? Solution: total miles= Jan. miles + February miles + March miles

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