3rd Grade Math
Multiplication, division, and more complex problem-solving strategies for third grade students.
Advanced Topics
Solving Word Problems
What Are Word Problems?
Word problems use stories or real-life situations to ask you math questions. You need to figure out which math operation to use—multiplication, division, or even both!
Steps to Solve Word Problems
- Read Carefully: What is the problem asking?
- Underline Clues: Look for words like "each," "total," "shared," or "split."
- Choose the Operation: Decide if you need to multiply or divide.
- Draw a Picture: Sometimes a drawing helps you see the problem.
- Write an Equation: Turn the story into a math sentence.
- Solve and Check: Do the math and see if your answer makes sense.
Practice Makes Perfect
The more word problems you solve, the better you get at using math in real life!
Key Formula
Total = Groups \times Amount\ per\ Group
Examples
Sara has 3 bags. Each bag has 5 marbles. How many marbles does she have? \(3 \times 5 = 15\)
If you split 24 cookies among 8 friends, how many cookies does each friend get? \(24 \div 8 = 3\)
In a Nutshell
Word problems help you use math to solve real-world problems.