4th Grade Math Question of the Day

1. 284,040 boxes remaining stored
2. 315,684 boxes remaining stored
3. 314,400 boxes remaining stored
4. 284,400 boxes remaining stored (correct answer)

Explanation: When you encounter multi-step word problems involving large numbers, break down each operation carefully and track what happens to the original amount at each stage. Start with the warehouse's original storage: 316 boxes. First, they multiply their storage by 1,000, which means: $316 \times 1,000 = 316,000$ boxes total. Next, they ship out 100 times their original amount. The original amount was 316 boxes, so they ship: $316 \times 100 = 31,600$ boxes. Finally, subtract what they shipped from what they had: $316,000 - 31,600 = 284,400$ boxes remaining. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (284,040) likely comes from miscalculating the shipping amount as 31,960 instead of 31,600. Choice B (315,684) appears to result from subtracting only 316 boxes instead of 31,600, missing the "100 times" multiplier entirely. Choice C (314,400) suggests someone subtracted 1,600 instead of 31,600, possibly confusing the multiplication step. The correct answer is D (284,400 boxes). Strategy tip: In multi-step problems, write down what each phrase means mathematically before calculating. "100 times their original amount" means $316 \times 100$, not just adding 100. Always double-check that you're using the right numbers for each operation—the original amount (316) versus the current amount (316,000) serve different purposes in this problem.