Multi-Step Problem Solving · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Solving Problems in Steps

Mathematics · Mathematical Thinking · ages 7-8
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A shop has 450 apples. It sells 120 in the morning and 130 in the afternoon. How many apples are left?

    Answer: ______________

  2. A shop has 450 apples. It sells 120 in the morning and 130 in the afternoon. What is the best first step?

    • Add 120 + 130 to find the total sold
    • Add 450 + 120 + 130 all together
    • Subtract 130 - 120
    • Multiply 450 by 2

  3. What is a good first step for a problem with two operations, like multiplying then subtracting?

    • Solve both parts at the same time without writing anything down
    • Break it into two parts and solve one at a time
    • Guess the final answer without doing any maths

  4. Once you get an answer to a problem, it is always right, so you never need to check it.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. A pupil answers 45 + 27 = 71. To check, work out 71 - 27. What do you get?

    Answer: ______________

  6. Leo says 154 + 68 = 222. How can he check if this is right?

    • Subtract 68 from 222 and see if he gets 154
    • Multiply 154 by 68
    • Add 222 and 68 together

  7. Which estimate fits 295 + 405?

    • About 600
    • About 700
    • About 900
    • About 500

  8. A recipe needs 300 g of flour. Sam has 500 g, uses 300 g, then buys 250 g more. Sam says 500 - 300 + 250 = 450 g. Is Sam right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  9. A shop has 24 boxes of 15 pens. They sell 187 pens. Which answer is NOT reasonable for how many pens are left?

    • 173
    • 190
    • 2547

  10. A school has 800 pupils. 350 go home by bus and 280 walk. The rest cycle. How many cycle?

    Answer: ______________

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Solving Problems in Steps W1-mt_RKeheOL9uo-s1

  1. 200 · Total sold is 250, and 450 - 250 = 200.
  2. Add 120 + 130 to find the total sold · The total sold feeds the final subtraction, so find 120 + 130 first.
  3. Break it into two parts and solve one at a time · Breaking a two-step problem into smaller parts makes each step easier to solve.
  4. False · Even careful mathematicians check their answers, often using the opposite operation or a different method.
  5. 44 · 71 - 27 = 44, not 45, so the answer 71 was wrong.
  6. Subtract 68 from 222 and see if he gets 154 · Subtracting one addend from the total should give back the other addend, if the addition was correct.
  7. About 700 · 295 is near 300 and 405 is near 400, and 300 + 400 = 700.
  8. True · Sam is right. 500 - 300 = 200, and 200 + 250 = 450.
  9. 2547 · Estimate first: 24 x 15 is about 360 pens in total, so losing 187 leaves fewer than 360. That means 2547 cannot be right, and comparing to your estimate catches the mistake.
  10. 170 · Bus plus walking is 630, and 800 - 630 = 170.
Worksheet · LightMySky