--- title: "Connecting maths to real life" description: "Represent real-world problems with number sentences, drawings or diagrams, and explain what the mathematical answer means in the story" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/connecting-maths-to-real-life-mt_f67qGDhyfi source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/connecting-maths-to-real-life-mt_f67qGDhyfi.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Connecting maths to real life Represent real-world problems with number sentences, drawings or diagrams, and explain what the mathematical answer means in the story Subject: Mathematics · Area: Mathematical Thinking · Ages 6 to 7 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/connecting-maths-to-real-life-mt_f67qGDhyfi ## Ready when they can - Choose matching number sentences or stories and calculate amounts in one-step or two-step problems - Choose or check a dot model and find the gap between two amounts - Interpret chart quantities and check or choose answers with the unit and meaning the story needs ## Lesson: Turning words into numbers You have used objects and pictures to show stories. A number sentence records the maths with an equals sign. Use + to join amounts and - to take an amount away. Count objects to solve it. On a number line, count forward to add and backward to subtract. *(drawing: The chart names each person and shows their sticker count. Mia's taller bar shows that she has more stickers.)* To find the total cost, add both prices. Ravi buys a sticker for 6p and a pencil for 4p: 6 + 4 = 10. He spends 10 pence. If two things have the same price, add that price twice. Two pens costing 5p each cost 5 + 5 = 10 pence. **Example.** A ribbon is cut into two pieces, 9 cm and 6 cm long. Find its whole length by adding: 9 + 6 = 15. It was 15 centimetres long. The line starts at 0. Move forward 9 spaces, then 6 spaces. Each space stands for one centimetre. A comparison drawing uses one dot for each object. For Sam's 4 stickers and Mia's 7, draw separate groups of 4 and 7 dots. Match 4 dots from each group. Mia has 3 extra: 7 - 4 = 3. The number line shows the gap from 4 to 7. Read the name and number of each chart bar. To find which group has more, compare the numbers. On the same chart, a taller bar shows a greater amount. To find a total, add the amounts. For 2 books in week 1 and 5 in week 2, use 2 + 5 = 7. That means 7 books across both weeks. **Example.** Follow two changes in story order. A ribbon loses 6 cm, then 4 cm: 18 - 6 = 12, then 12 - 4 = 8 cm left. A jar loses 3 beads, then gains 2: 10 - 3 = 7, then 7 + 2 = 9 beads. For two purchases, add the prices, then subtract that cost from your money. If the starting money is missing, add the money left and the money spent. After spending 3p with 5p left, you started with 5 + 3 = 8 pence. If the spending is missing, subtract what is left from the start. Starting with 9p and keeping 6p means you spent 9 - 6 = 3 pence. Check by subtracting the spending from the start. Explain what the result describes. For length, cm means centimetres and m means metres. For money, p means pence. A ribbon answer needs a length unit. Say '8 centimetres of ribbon left' or '10 pence spent'. The number, unit and story words tell someone what you found. **Recap.** Turn the words into a number sentence, solve it, then say what your answer means in real life. *Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset.* ## Practice 18 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Using objects to model real problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/using-objects-to-model-real-problems-mt_fLOkq-HfPB) ## Optional connections - [Interpreting categorical data](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/interpreting-categorical-data-mt_1VSfm9yiLn) - [Unknown in Addition & Subtraction](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/unknown-in-addition-and-subtraction-mt_3JgrHY221M) ## Opens up - [Solving money measurement and time problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/solving-money-measurement-and-time-problems-mt_iQYPw8bMfN)