Word Problem Strategies

For Elementary Students

Why Word Problems Can Be Tricky

Word problems use words and sentences instead of just numbers. You have to figure out:

• What the problem is asking
• What numbers to use
• What operation to use (+, −, ×, ÷)

Think about it like this: Word problems are like little stories — you're the detective finding clues to solve the mystery!

The 4-Step Strategy

Use these 4 steps for every word problem:

Step 1: Read Carefully

Read the problem at least twice. Slow down!

Example: "Sarah has 12 apples. She gives 5 to her friend. How many apples does Sarah have left?"

First read: Get the big picture. Second read: Look for details.

Step 2: Understand What's Happening

Ask yourself:

• Who is the problem about? (Sarah)
• What is happening? (She's giving away apples)
• What does the problem want me to find? (How many apples are left)

Step 3: Make a Plan

Decide what operation to use:

• Addition (+) — putting things together, finding totals
• Subtraction (−) — taking away, finding what's left, finding the difference
• Multiplication (×) — groups of the same size, repeated addition
• Division (÷) — splitting into equal groups, sharing

In our example: Sarah is giving away apples, so we subtract.

Step 4: Solve and Check

Write the number sentence and solve:

12 - 5 = 7

Answer: Sarah has 7 apples left.

Check: Does this make sense? Yes! 12 apples, take away 5, leaves 7. ✓

Key Words to Look For

Certain words give you clues about which operation to use:

Example: "There are 4 boxes. Each box has 6 crayons. How many crayons in all?"

"In all" = addition or total "Each box has 6" = groups → multiplication

4 × 6 = 24 crayons

For Junior High Students

The CUBES Method

CUBES is a detailed strategy for tackling word problems:

C — Circle the numbers U — Underline the question B — Box key words E — Eliminate unnecessary information S — Solve and check

Using CUBES

Example: "Maya bought 3 notebooks for $2 each and 1 pencil case for $5. She paid with a $20 bill. How much change did she get?"

C — Circle numbers: 3, $2, 1, $5, $20

U — Underline the question: "How much change did she get?"

B — Box key words: "bought," "each," "paid," "change"

E — Eliminate unnecessary info: Is anything extra? No, all the numbers are needed.

S — Solve:

Step 1: Find the cost of notebooks 3 × $2 = $6

Step 2: Add the pencil case $6 + $5 = $11 total

Step 3: Find the change $20 - $11 = $9

Answer: Maya got $9 in change. ✓

Multi-Step Word Problems

Some problems require more than one step.

Example: "A box holds 12 cookies. Tim buys 5 boxes. He eats 8 cookies. How many cookies are left?"

Step 1: Find total cookies 5 × 12 = 60 cookies

Step 2: Subtract the cookies eaten 60 - 8 = 52 cookies

Answer: 52 cookies are left.

Tip: Break the problem into smaller parts and solve one step at a time.

Drawing a Picture

Sometimes drawing a picture helps you see what's happening.

Example: "There are 3 rows of desks. Each row has 4 desks. How many desks total?"

Draw it:

🪑 🪑 🪑 🪑
🪑 🪑 🪑 🪑
🪑 🪑 🪑 🪑

Count or multiply: 3 × 4 = 12 desks

Checking Your Answer

Always check if your answer makes sense:

Does the number seem reasonable? If the problem says "5 students each ate 2 slices" and your answer is 500 slices, something is wrong!

Can you work backwards? If 12 - 5 = 7, check by adding: 7 + 5 = 12 ✓

Does it answer the question? Make sure you answered what the problem asked. If it asks "How many left?" don't give the total!

Identifying Unnecessary Information

Not all numbers in a problem are important.

Example: "Jake is 10 years old. He has 15 toy cars and 7 toy trucks. How many toy vehicles does he have?"

Unnecessary: His age (10) — it doesn't affect the answer.

Needed: 15 cars + 7 trucks = 22 vehicles

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Rushing — Read carefully! ❌ Using the wrong operation — Think about what's happening ❌ Forgetting to label — Include units (apples, dollars, feet) ❌ Not checking — Always review your answer

Practice