Connecting maths to real life · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Turning words into numbers

Mathematics · Mathematical Thinking · ages 6-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. When you solve a word problem, saying just the number, like '15', is enough. You do not need to explain what it means.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Sam has 7 marbles. He gets 5 more. Which number sentence fits?

    • 7 take away 5 equals 2
    • 5 take away 7 equals 2
    • 7 plus 7 equals 14
    • 7 plus 5 equals 12

  3. A ribbon is 15 cm long. You add 10 cm more. How long is it now?

    Answer: ______________

  4. Mia buys an apple for 4p and a banana for 3p. Which number sentence finds the total cost?

    • 4 + 3
    • 4 - 3
    • 3 + 3

  5. This bar model shows how many books Tia read each week. Which number sentence finds the total books she read?

    Week 13Week 24
    • 3 + 4
    • 4 - 3
    • 4 + 4

  6. A bus has 14 children. 6 get off. Which sentence fits?

    • 14 take away 6 equals 8
    • 14 plus 6 equals 20
    • 6 plus 6 equals 14
    • 14 take away 6 equals 7

  7. A shop sells pencils for 9p each. You buy 2. How much do you pay?

    Answer: ______________

  8. Lena draws bars for 8 plus 4 and gets 12. She says the answer means 12 marbles. Is she right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  9. Zoe solves 9 - 4 = 5 for a problem about a ribbon. She says 'The answer is 5.' What is she missing?

    • She needs to add instead of subtract
    • She needs a bigger number
    • She needs to say 5 what, like 5 centimetres

  10. A ribbon is 20 cm long. Mia cuts off 8 cm to make one bow. Then she cuts off 5 cm more to make a second bow. How many centimetres of ribbon are left? Type the number.

    0247101214161820-8 cm-5 cm

    Answer: ______________

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Answer key

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

Turning words into numbers W1-mt_f67qGDhyfi-s1

  1. False · You should always say what the number means, like '15 centimetres' or '15 pence'. A number alone does not tell the whole story.
  2. 7 plus 5 equals 12 · Getting more means add 7 and 5.
  3. 25 · 15 plus 10 is 25 cm.
  4. 4 + 3 · She buys two things, so you add the two prices together: 4 + 3.
  5. 3 + 4 · The bar model shows two amounts put together, so you add them: 3 + 4.
  6. 14 take away 6 equals 8 · Getting off means subtract.
  7. 18 · Two nines make 18p.
  8. True · 12 is the total marbles.
  9. She needs to say 5 what, like 5 centimetres · A number alone is not enough. Zoe should say what 5 means, such as '5 centimetres of ribbon left'.
  10. 7 · Take away both pieces from the start length: 20 - 8 - 5 = 7. There are 7 centimetres of ribbon left.
Worksheet · LightMySky