how to solve multi step word problems 4th grade

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Multiple-Step Word Problems

These multiple-step word problems require students to use reasoning and critical thinking skills to determine how each problem can be solved.

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Multi-Step Word Problems Mastery

By Mary Montero

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How many of you cringe at the thought of teaching your students multi-step word problems? (RAISES HAND!) I get it. I know. It’s tough. It is overwhelming, and it’s not necessarily something that just “clicks” for kids. They need practice, they need time to think through problems, and they need to start really thinking like mathematicians in order to become proficient at more difficult problems. Luckily, over the years, I’ve come up with a few different ideas and activities for helping students master multi-step word problems! There are TONS of freebies in this post. Enjoy!

CUBES for Problem Solving

I always begin problem-solving (not just multi-step word problems) by teaching my students CUBES. This has been around for years, in many different variations. An oldie but a goodie, if you will!

I REALLY, REALLY emphasize the “E” because this is where kids get stuck. I created the three “What” questions that they need to be able to answer before they can move on and solve the problem. Before they try to solve the problems, they need to ask themselves:

• What label will my answer have? (This helps them narrow down exactly what they are doing with the problem, and maybe, just maybe, it helps them remember to include a label!)
• What information do I HAVE to answer the question?
• What information do I NEED to answer the question?

I have found that kids are almost always able to figure out the answers to these questions when they are required to stop and think about it, and this step ALWAYS helps to set them up for problem-solving success!

Teaching my students to use a pretty specific format for showing their work and solving word problems. I have been using some variation of this for years, and it has evolved the more and more I have used it.

The Single-Step Format

The sample problem I used in this anchor chart is a SINGLE-STEP problem, and I would highly encourage you to teach this format using a single-step format, then move on later to using it for multi-step (hang tight! I will address using this format with multi-step problems soon!).

Now, do I recommend you use this format for every single word problem students use? Absolutely not. However, we do at least one or two a week this way simply because of the “answer” section and how important it is for students to be able to explain their math process.

Students always have to begin their written answers with “To solve this problem, I…” and they always have to end it with “Therefore, I know…” Students are always very tempted to say, “To solve this problem I added 1,098 and 530. Therefore, I know the answer is 1,628 calories.” Is this right? Sure! But is it the best answer and explanation they could have given? Nope.

I always encourage my students to be VERY specific about what the numbers are that they are addressing when they write out their answers. This helps them really evaluate their thinking and see if it made sense. There is a big difference between telling me which numbers you added and what those numbers represent. This also encourages students to restate the question in their answer and make sure they have actually answered the question that is being asked.

**THIS IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE!** It takes my students several examples to catch on to explaining their answers in this way, but it is so, so worth it once they truly understand. Here is another student sample:

Introducing Multi-Step Problem Solving

Now, before I have them use this model for multi-step problems, there are a few activities we do to prepare for that challenge and to get them comfortable with multi-step problems.

First, I have them do a little sequencing sort. I give them a completed multi-step problem with all of the steps out of order. The steps are written in the same format as described above, with very specific instructions walking the reader through how they solved the problem. The students put the directions back in order and make sure it all makes sense. They aren’t actually having to do any math here, so it frees them up to simply think about the process. ( These sorts are free ! See link at the end of my blog post.)

Then we work with these multi-step word problem cutouts . Each half-page word problem includes 4-5 steps to solve it. Students must cut out the steps and rearrange them into the correct order to fully explain how to solve each problem.

Foldables for Scaffolded Practice

Once I feel like students understand the basics of solving multi-step problems, we move on to some scaffolded practice using these handy little foldables that I created! (I have created ten pages of varying levels, and they are FREE for you to use with your students! Click the link at the end of the post to access the freebies.)

Each page is split in half. Students fold the paper in half, cut across the dotted lines on the right side, and fold the right flaps under. They always start with the left side, where they read the problem, following the CUBE steps (with a special place for the Examine step, because I think it is SO important), and then they open the flaps to reveal step-by-step how to solve the problem. The flaps give the student hints about what step they need to complete and sometimes how to do it. It serves as a scaffolded guide for solving these tricky word problems.

The purpose of the flaps is to guide students through the steps, but to also give them time to think about what the next steps are and then see if they are correct.

Now, the only tricky part about this is that students might solve problems differently (and possibly in a different order) and get the same answer and THAT IS OKAY. These are meant to be used as an introduction to multi-step problem solving only! There are so many ways you can let your students use them.

Once we have done several of these together, I let them start working on their own with task cards and our four square format I mentioned above. I have them glue task cards in their notebooks and work through each problem. Once they have done a few like this, I let them move on to working on them without the four square format.

Some students even like to create their own foldables (like those that I showed above) with the task cards!

You can purchase my Multi-Step Word Problem Task Cards HERE.

When kids are ready, we then move on to multi-part problems. Kids LOVE these, and they seem to really thrive on the challenge of not only having a multi-step problem, but also a multi-PART problem.

You can purchase my Multi-Part Task Cards HERE.

…and when your students are really ready for an even bigger challenge, it’s time to present to them… Math Detectives! This is a new spin on Error Analysis that requires students to really analyze solutions and see which solutions and problem solving steps are the most reasonable. Each card has a task on it (usually multi-step) and there are two different explanations for a solution. The students have to figure out which explanation is correct and then solve the problem. This is such a fun activity for my students! They love being detectives.

You can purchase Math Detectives HERE.

Well, there you have it! All of my ideas and resources for teaching students to love solving multi-step word problems! It doesn’t have to be (too) scary.

If you’d like to download the THIRTY pages worth of freebies featured above, please enter your email address below:

This freebie includes the two tasks mentioned above as well as anchor chart templates and printable posters.

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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Wow this is amazing! Thank you for sharing! I'm not a classroom teacher, but I'm ready to tackle multi-step problems w/ my own kiddos now!

Thanks so much for this freebie!! I teach special education students and this is a different approach and I will definitely be using this in class.

My 5th graders are struggling with single step, and multi-step word problems. I am excited to try this resource!

I can’t wait to use your math problem solving packet.

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How to Solve Multi-Step Word Problems

Multi-step word problems may initially seem daunting, but with a structured approach, they become manageable and less intimidating. Here, we provide a step-by-step guide to help you navigate these complex problems with ease.

A Step-by-step Guide to Solving Multi-Step Word Problems

Step 1: understand the problem.

The first step in solving multi-step word problems is to read the problem carefully. Look for keywords and phrases that suggest what arithmetic operation(s) you will need to apply. Words like ‘in total’, ‘altogether’ or ‘sum’ suggest an addition, ‘less than’ or ‘remain’ hint towards subtraction, ‘product’ or ‘times’ indicate multiplication, and ‘quotient’ or ‘divided by’ point to division.

Step 2: Identify the Steps Needed

After understanding the problem, list out the necessary steps to reach the solution. Each word problem is a unique puzzle with its sequence of operations. Some problems may require you to perform multiplication before addition, while others may need subtraction followed by division.

Step 3: Assign Variables

For problems with unknown quantities, assign a variable (for example, \(X\) or \(Y\)) to each unknown. This strategy makes it easier to organize information and apply arithmetic operations.

Step 4: Write Equations

Formulate equations based on the identified steps and assigned variables. Keep in mind the order of operations (BIDMAS/BODMAS) – Brackets, Indices/Orders, Division and Multiplication (from left to right), Addition, and Subtraction (from left to right).

Step 5: Solve the Equations

Solving the equations might require simple substitution or more advanced techniques like elimination or matrix method in the case of multiple variables. Don’t forget to check your solutions to make sure they satisfy the original equations.

Step 6: Answer the Question

Finally, ensure that your answer responds to the question asked in the problem. For example, if the problem is asking for the total number of apples, your answer should be a number and mention ‘apples’.

Practical Example

Let’s apply these steps to a sample problem: “Sarah bought \(2\) books. Each book cost twice as much as a pen. She bought \(4\) pens. If each pen cost \($5\), how much did she spend in total?”

Step 1: The problem involves multiplication (each book cost twice as much as a pen) and addition (total amount spent).

Step 2: First, find the cost of a book and then calculate the total cost.

Step 3: Let’s say \(X\) is the cost of a book.

Step 4: The equations will be \(X = 2 \times the\:cost\:of\:a\:pen\) and Total cost = cost of books + cost of pens.

Step 5: Substituting the given cost of a pen (\($5\)), we find \(X = $10\). The total cost is then calculated as \((2 \times $10) + (4 \times $5) = $40\).

Step 6: The total amount Sarah spent is \($40\).

In conclusion, with a systematic approach, you can effectively solve any multi-step word problem. Remember, practice is the key. The more problems you solve, the better you will become at identifying the necessary steps and solving them accurately.

by: Effortless Math Team about 11 months ago (category: Articles )

Effortless Math Team

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Helping with Math

Multi-Step Math Word Problems

What to expect in this article.

After reading this article, you will be able to analyze, process, and solve multi-step word problems . This lesson will provide help and guidance in solving these types of problems as it includes tips on how to solve a multi-step problem . There are two given examples wherein you can practice and guide your children in honing their mathematical skills. You can also read the common errors and misconceptions of students in solving multi-step problems. Furthermore, this article consists of links directed to worksheets – which you can find at the bottom of the page. 

What is a multi-step word problem?

Math word problems are a critical component of the mathematics curriculum because they help students develop their mental abilities , improve logical analysis , and stimulate creative thinking . Word problems are fun and challenging to solve because they represent actual situations that happen in our world. More so, having the ability to solve math word problems significantly benefits one’s career and personal life.

To be able to solve any math word problem , children must be familiar with the mathematics language associated with the mathematical symbols they are accustomed in order to comprehend the word problem.

A multi-step math word problem is a type of problem wherein you need to solve one or more problems first in order to get the necessary information to solve the question being asked. It usually involves multiple operations and may also involve more than one strand of the curriculum. Say, for example, a multi-step word problem involving area and perimeter may also require the application of ratio and multiplication .

How to solve multi-step word problems?

In any word problem, the true challenge is deciding which mathematical operation to use. In solving multi-step word problems, there may be two or more operations that you need to work on, and you must solve them in the correct order to be able to get the correct answer. Since word problems describe a real situation in detail, the question being asked can get lost in all the information, especially in a multi-step problem.

To solve multi-step word problems, you may follow these strategy:

• Analyze and understand the problem. 
• Break down each sentence of the problem and identify the clues.
• List all the information.
• Identify the unknown in the problem.
• Devise a plan or identify the mathematical operations you are going to use.
• Carry out the plan.
• Label your final answer.

Multi-Step Word Problem #1

Step 1: Break down each sentence of the problem and identify the information needed to solve the problem.

• The first sentence states that “Steven is reading a book that has 260 pages.” Hence, the total number of pages of that particular book is 260 .
• The second statement says, “He read 35 pages on Monday night and 40 pages on Tuesday night.” 

Step 2: Analyze the question of the problem and find the keyword for the unknown. The last sentence of the problem, “How many pages does he has left to read?” asks us how many more pages Steven needs to read. Hence, we are going to find the number of pages he still needs to read.

Step 3: Based on the second statement, Steven read 35 pages on a Monday night and 45 pages on a Tuesday night. Hence, we will use addition in getting the total number of pages he read for 2 nights. Thus, 

35 + 40 = 75

Therefore, Steven read 75 pages in the span of two days. However, that is not the answer we are looking for. 

Step 4: Since we are asked to get the number of pages he still needs to read, the first sentence on our problem shows us that there are 260 pages in the book. Hence, we need to subtract the number of pages Steven has read from the total number of pages of the book. Thus,

260 – 75 = 185

Therefore, Steven has 185 pages left to read.

Multi-Step Word Problem #2

Jesy bought a dozen of boxes, each containing 24 highlighter pens inside. Each box costs \$8. Jesy repacked five of these boxes into packages of six highlighters each and sold them for \$3 per package. She sold the rest of the highlighters at the price of three pens for \$2. How much profit did Jesy make?

• The statement, “Jesy bought a dozen of boxes , each containing 24 highlighter pens inside,” tells us that there are a dozen of boxes that contains 24 highlighters. A dozen means there are 12 boxes . 
• The second sentence, “Each box costs \$8”, means Jesy bought 12 boxes at \$8 each . 
• “Jesy repacked five of these boxes into packages of six highlighters each and sold them for \ $3 per package ” means that Jesy separated 5 boxes from the original 12 boxes to be repacked at a package of six, which was sold at \$3 each. 
• “She sold the rest of the highlighters at the price of three pens for \$2 ” means that Jesy sold the remaining highlighters and bundled it for 3 pens for \$2.

Step 2: Analyze the question of the problem and find the keyword. The last sentence of the problem, “How much profit did Jesy make?” asks us how much profit Jesy earned after repacking the highlighter pens. Profit is defined as the amount earned minus the amount spent to buy the highlighters. 

Step 3: Based on the first statement, Jesy bought 12 boxes containing 24 highlighters. The follow-up statement that says, “Each box costs \$8” refers to the price of each box. In this particular statement, we can find the total expenditures of Jesy for the highlighter pens by simply multiplying the total number of boxes to \$8. Hence, 

12 x \$8 = \$96

This means that Jesy spent \$96 to buy all the highlighters. However, that is not the question being asked. Hence, we need to work on the follow-up statements and find more clues to get Jesy’s profit in selling highlighters. 

Step 4: The next statement says that “Jesy repacked five of these boxes into packages of six highlighters each and sold them for \$3 per package” means that Jesy separated 5 boxes from the dozen to be repacked at a package of six, which was sold at \$3 each. Based on this statement, we need to do three things:

• Find the total number of highlighters she got from separating 5 boxes;
• Find the total number of packages she made by repacking it by 6; and
• Find how much money she made by selling the sets of 6 at \$3.  

Step 5: To find the total number of highlighters she got from separating 5 boxes, we simply multiply 5 by the number of highlighters inside the box. Based on the first statement, each box contains 24 highlighters. Hence,

5 x 24 = 120

This means Jesy repacked a total of 120 highlighter pens.

Step 6: To find the total number of packages she made by repacking 120 highlighter pens by 6, we will divide 120 by 6. Thus,

So, she was able to make 20 sets of 6 highlighter pens. 

Step 7: The next thing we need to do is find how much money she made by selling the sets of 6 by \$3. This can be done by multiplying 20 sets by \$3. Hence,

20 x \$3 = \$60

Thus, Jesy made \$60 from the 20 sets of 6 highlighter pens.

Step 8: The third sentence, “She sold the rest of the highlighters at the price of three pens for \$2” means that Jesy sold the remaining highlighters and bundled it for 3 pens for \$2. From this statement, we need to work on four things first:

• Find the remaining number of boxes; 
• Find the total number of highlighter pens she repacked;
• Find the number of sets she repacked by making sets of 3; and
• Find how much money Jesy made by selling packs of 3 at \$2. 

Step 9: To find the remaining number of boxes, we need to go through some of the problem statements. Based on the first statement, we have 12 boxes, then 5 boxes were separated to make a highlighter set of 6. Hence, we will subtract 5 from 12. 

So, we still have 7 remaining boxes.

Step 10: To find the total number of highlighter pens she repacked, we need to multiply the remaining 7 boxes to the number of highlighter pens inside the box. Going back to the information we already have, we know that there are 24 highlighter pens inside a box. Thus, 

7 x 24 = 168

This means Jesy repacked a total of 168 highlighter pens. 

Step 11: Find the number of sets Jesy made by repacking 168 highlighter pens by 3. This can be done by dividing 168 by 3. Hence,

Thus, Jesy was able to make 56 sets of 3 highlighter pens. 

Step 12: Determine how much money Jesy made by selling each set for \$2. Hence, 

56 x \$2 = \$112

This means Jesy made \$112 by selling 3 highlighter pens for \$2. 

Step 13: The question asks us to determine the profit Jesy made by selling the highlighter pens. In order to find the profit, we need the information of:

• How much did Jesy spend on the highlighter. In Step 3, we found out that she paid \$96 on buying all the highlighter pens. 
• How much money does Jesy make on selling packs of 6 highlighters for \$3. In Step 7, we already know that she made \$60; and
• How much money does Jesy make on selling sets of 3 highlighter pens for \$2. In Step 12, we found out that she made \$112.

Step 14: Before getting the profit Jesy made, we need to know the total money Jesy made in selling the highlighters. Hence, we will simply add the money of \$60 and \$112. Thus,

\$60 + \$112 = \$172

However, \$172 is not the profit Jesy made. This is just the money she was able to make in selling the highlighter pens.

Step 15: Lastly, we will subtract the money Jesy spent on buying the highlighters from the money she made by selling it to find the profit. Thus, 

\ $172 – \$96 = \$76

Therefore, Jesy made a profit of \$76 by selling the highlighter pens.

You can tell that there are lots of things to remember with a multi-step word problem, even when the problem itself is relatively easy. But that’s what makes these problems challenging: you get to use both sides of your brain – your logical math skills and your verbal language skills. That’s why they are often more fun to do than problems that are just numbers without the details and context that word problems give you. The better you understand how to solve them, the more fun they are to solve. 

What are the common errors in solving multi-step word problems?

Mathematical word problems can be challenging to solve. To obtain the correct answer, children must read the words and carefully analyze the problem, determine the appropriate math operation, and then perform the calculations correctly. An error in working on one of the steps may result in a wrong answer. 

Here’s a list of some errors students make when solving multi-step word problems:

• The most common error of students is stopping at one process if they solve one problem. Consider the same word problem about Steven. 

“Steven is reading a book that has 260 pages. He read 35 pages on Monday night and 40 pages on Tuesday night. How many pages does he has left to read?” 

Most students recognize that they need to add 35 and 40 together to get the total number of pages Steven has read so far. Most errors occur when students stop at one process. Adding 35 + 40 will tell you that Steven has read 75 pages so far, but if we go back to the question you are being asked, you will notice that 75 pages are not the answer you are being asked. Thus, we still need to take another step to get there. Steven has read 75 pages so far, but the questions asked us to solve the number of pages he has left to read. Hence, subtracting 75 from the total number of pages of the book makes much more sense. 

• Students get confused with the mathematical operation to use. Even if children are strong readers, they may struggle to pick up on clues in word problems. These clues are phrases that instruct children on how to solve a problem, such as adding or subtracting. The children are then required to convert these phrases into a number sentence in order to solve word problems.

How to teach multi-step problems to children?

There are certain activities or practices that you can try with your child in order to develop their skills in solving multi-step problems. 

• The first and most important skill in working with multi-step is being able to understand the problem clearly. Hence, practicing your child in slowly reading and visualizing problems is the first step in implementing our effective reading comprehension strategies.
• Practice your child in recognizing mathematics terms and vocabulary that are used in word problems. There are keywords or clues that we can easily spot in a word problem if we familiarize ourselves with these mathematical terms. 

Let’s look at the sample words related to addition, subtraction , multiplication, and division.

However, some English words can sometimes be confusing as they may mean differently depending on the context. 

Let’s look at the table below:

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Operations & Algebraic Thinking - 4th Grade

Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems..

CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3 Solve multi-step word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity.  Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

Teacher Notes The focus in this standard is to have students use and discuss various strategies. It refers to estimation strategies, including using compatible numbers (numbers that sum to 10 or 100) or rounding. Problems should be structured so that all acceptable estimation strategies will arrive at a reasonable answer. Students need many opportunities solving multi-step story problems using all four operations.

This standard references interpreting remainders. Remainders should be put into context for interpretation. Ways to address remainders: • Remain as a left over • Partitioned into fractions or decimals • Discarded leaving only the whole number answer • Increase the whole number answer up one • Round to the nearest whole number for an approximate result

Student Knowledge Goals I know estimation strategies. I know mental math strategies. I know that a letter represents an unknown quantity. I can represent multi-step word problems using equations and a symbol for the unknown. I can interpret multi-step word problems and determine the appropriate operation to solve. I can use mental math and estimation to determine the reasonableness of an answer. I can interpret a remainder based on the context of a problem.

Teacher Lessons Engage NY Module 3-A Overview Engage NY Module 3-A1 - Includes printable classwork and homework *4.OA.A.1 & 4.OA.A.2 also covered Engage NY Module 3-D12 - Includes printable classwork and homework 4.OA.A.3 Lesson A - Includes printable classwork and homework 4.OA.A.3 Lesson B - Includes printable classwork and homework 4.OA.A.3 A&B Answers

Student Video Lessons Learn Zillion Video Lessons Study Jams - Word Problems to Equations Study Jams - Reasonableness & Estimation Study Jams - Equations & Word Problems

Online Problems, Games, and Assessments Khan Academy - Questions and Video Lessons Multi-Step Word Problems Multi-Step Word Problems & Video Lessons Multi-Step Word Problems with Estimating - Upper Level

Worksheets Multi-Step Word Problems I Multi-Step Word Problems II 4.0A.A.3 Worksheets

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4th Grade Math Word Problems Worksheets

Math word problem worksheets for grade 4.

These word problem worksheets place 4th grade math concepts into real world problems that students can relate to.  

We encourage students to read and think about the problems carefully, by:

• providing  mixed word problem worksheets
• including irrelevant data within word problems so students must understand the context before applying a solution

The four operations

Mixed addition and subtraction word problems

Mixed multiplication and division word problems

Mixed 4 operations

Estimating and rounding word problems

Fractions and decimal word problems for grade 4

Writing and comparing fractions

Adding and subtracting fractions

Multiplying fractions by whole numbers

Adding and subtracting decimals

Measurement word problems

Mass and weight word problems

Volume and capacity word problems

Length word problems

Time & money word problems for 4th grade

Time word problems

Money word problems

Shopping word problems

Mixed word problems

Mixed word problems for grade 4  

Sample Grade 4 Word Problem Worksheet

More word problem worksheets

Explore all of our math word problem worksheets , from kindergarten through grade 5.

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4th Grade Word Problems

Related Pages More Word Problems More Grade 4 Math Topics Singapore Math Common Core Math

The following are some examples of 4th Grade Math Word Problems that use mixed operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). These problems are solved with the help of block diagrams or bar models (Singapore Math) or tape diagrams (Common Core).

Example: There were 42 mangoes in each crate. 12 such crates of mangoes were delivered to a factory. 4 mangoes were rotten and had to be thrown away. The remaining mangoes were packed into boxes of 10 mangoes each. How many boxes of mangoes were there?

Solution: Step 1: Find the total number of mangoes delivered.

12 × 42 = 504

The total number of mangoes delivered was 504.

Step 2: Find the number of remaining mangoes.

504 – 4 = 500

Step 3: Find the number of boxes of mangoes.

500 ÷ 10 = 50

There were 50 boxes of mangoes.

Example: There were 9500 spectators at a football match. 6375 of them were men. Of the remaining spectators, there were 4 times as many children as women. How many children were there?

Solution: Step 1: Find the number of women and children.

9500 – 6375 = 3125

There were 3125 women and children.

Step 2: Find the number of women.

3125 ÷ 5 = 625

There were 625 women.

Step 3: Find the number of children.

625 × 4 = 2500

There were 2500 children.

4th Grade Word Problems and Bar Models Example: Dad bought two hammers. One cost $18 and the other costs $28 more. What was his total bill?

Grade 4 Common Core Math Example: Kyle is making 9 birdhouses. He uses 8 nails for each birdhouse. If Kyle has a box of 100 nails, how many nails will he have left after making the birdhouses?

Model Drawing for 4th Grade Examples: Multiplication

• A ribbon that’s 1,530 inches long is cut into two pieces. The length of one piece is 2 times the length of the other. What is the length of the longer piece?
• A piece of fabric that’s 1,640 feet long is cut into two pieces. The length of one piece is 3 times the length of the other. What is the length of the longer piece?

Part-Whole Division 3. A man divided his fortune of $92,000 into 8 equal parts. He gave 4 portions to his wife, 1 portion to his son, and divided the rest equally among three charities. How much more money did the wife receive than the son? 4. A woman divide her collection of 1,200 books into 10 equal parts. She gave 3 portions to her husband, 4 portions to her daughter, and the rest equally to three nieces. How many books did her daughter receive?

Rate Problems 5. Andrew can type 55 words per minute. How many words can he type in 8 minutes? 6. Eddie can write 15 short poems an hour. How many poems can he write in 3 hours?

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Multi-step Word Problems

Mapped to ccss section# 4.oa.a.3, 5.oa.a.1, try sample question.

Multistep Worksheets

• Kindergarten

Solving Multi-Step Word Problems with Whole Numbers

Quick Facts

Subject: Math, Operations and Algebraic Thinking

Type: 1 Lesson Plan

• Collaborate, use perseverance and attention to precision
• Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies (rounding with an explanation of "why")
• Make sense of problems and use to solve them,
• Solve multi-step word problems with whole numbers using the 4 operations
• Determine and interpret remainders when needed
• Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity
• Complete an exit slip to help you determine next instructional steps
• Blank paper
• Document camera or whiteboard
• “Exit Slips” (1 copy per student)
• “Word Problem Practice” (pages 5-6) (1 copy per student)
• “Word Problem Practice -Answer Key” (1 copy for display)
• “Solve the Room!” (1 copy for display)
• “Solve the Room! -Answer Key” (1 copy for display)

CCSS: 4.OA.3, MP1, MP6

Lesson Plan Description

With a focus on the standards of math practice, this lesson provides multiple opportunities for your students to practice the many skills needed to solve multi-step word problems.  Perfect as a review or formative assessment tool, your studens will:

• Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies (rounding with an explanation of “why”)

Teaching Multiplication Word Problems (Grade 4)

Students often wonder why they’re learning a given math concept and word problems come in handy to help them realize the practical application of what is being taught. However, teaching word problems can be challenging, both for teachers and students.

This is why we’ll share simple tips on teaching multiplication word problems (grade 4) for teachers and homeschooling parents. Read on to learn more.

What Are Multiplication Word Problems?

Multiplication word problems are math problems that represent actual situations from the real world and involve multiplication.

However, when solving multiplication word problems, children also come across multi-step word problems . These are problems with more than one operation, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

How to Solve Multiplication Word Problems (Grade 4)

Start with simple multiplication word problems.

Explain to students that the trickiest part of any word problem is understanding what is being asked. If they don’t know what they’re being asked to do, it will be very difficult to solve the math problem.

Sometimes, a word problem involves so many details that the key question gets lost. Explain to students that this is why it’s crucial to identify what’s important in a given word problem and what isn’t.

Encourage students to use a highlighter when solving multiplication word problems to highlight the keywords, key numbers, and key operations in a word problem. Provide an easy example where this can be applied, such as:

Jeremy has 7 caramels and he has 5 times as many marshmallows . How many more marshmallows than caramels does he have ?

Explain that the thing we’re trying to find out is how many more marshmallows than caramels Jeremy has – this is the main question that students are asked. To answer the question, explain that they’ll use the underlined key information and perform two steps.

The first step is to figure out how many marshmallows Jeremy has; he has 5 x 7 as many marshmallows or 35 marshmallows . In other words, the first step is multiplication.

In the second step, once children are aware that Jeremy has 35 marshmallows and 7 caramels, they can easily find out how many more marshmallows than caramels he has by subtracting the total number of caramels from the total number of marshmallows, that is:

35 – 7 = 28 

So Jeremy has 28 more marshmallows than caramels, which children could find out by engaging in two steps – multiplication and subtraction.

Move on to ‘Wordier’ Multiplication Word Problems

Don’t jump into extremely wordy problems right away, but gradually transition to word problems of moderate difficulty that involve several steps, such as:

Mr. Conner bought 15 packets of pencils for his students. 5 of the packets had 6 pencils and the other 10 of the packet had 8 pencils . How many pencils did Mr.Conner buy in all ?

Explain to students that after they underline the important information, they need to assess which steps they need to take. For starters, make sure they understand they’re trying to find out the answer to the key question – how many pencils Mr. Conner bought in total?

To be able to answer this question, explain to them that they’ll use the key information that’s highlighted in the word problem as we did before, taking one step at a time. Point out that we know there are 5 packets of pencils that have 6 pencils each, which means:

5 x 6 = 30 pencils

The other key information they have is that there are 10 packets of pencils with 8 pencils each, that is:

10 x 8 = 80 pencils

Finally, point out that we’ll add the total number of pencils in 5 of the packets and in 10 of the packets, or:

30 + 80 = 110 pencils

So, the answer to “how many pencils Mr. Conner bought in total” is 110 pencils. This multi-step problem involved two multiplication steps and one addition step to get the right answer.

Activities to Practice Multiplication Word Problems (Grade 4)

Use this Assignment Worksheet (Members Only) to further reinforce children’s skills in solving multiplication word problems. The worksheet contains a dozen multiplication word problems that contain relatable and fun examples.

For instance, in part A of the worksheet, students are asked to solve a number of challenges connected to 4th graders in Mr. Vincent’s class that went to an amusement park last week, bought ice cream, and visited a haunted house.

To prepare for this activity, print out one copy of the worksheet (Members Only) per student. Make sure to bring a sufficient number of markers with different colors that students can use to highlight the key information in the math problems.

Explain to students that they’ll work in pairs of two to solve the word problems. Hand out the worksheets and markers to each pair. After a pair is done, they present their worksheet in front of the entire class by explaining each step they took to solve the given multi-step word problem.

Online Math Activity

Use this online math activity from Khan Academy to solve multiplication word problems. There’s a big variety of multi-step word problems that involve multiplication as a step that children will definitely enjoy.

Make sure that there’s a suitable technical device for each student (such as a laptop, iPad, or even a phone) so that they play individually. Since these online word problems can be done individually, they’re also a great resource for parents who are homeschooling their children.

Each question even contains a hint or a video in case the child gets stuck.

Before You Leave…

We hope you’ve enjoyed our tips on teaching math! If you’re looking for more math materials for kids of all ages, sign up for a membership on Math Teacher Coach or head over to our blog – you’ll find plenty of resources that will make teaching math easier than ever!

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This article is based on:

Unit 3 – Multi-Digit Whole Number Multiplication

• 3-1 Area and Perimeter Models
• 3-2 Multiplying by 10, 100, and 1,000
• 3-3 Multiplying Two-Digit by One-Digit Number
• 3-4 Multiplying Four-Digit by One-Digit Number
• 3-5 Multiplying Two-digit by Two-digit Number
• 3-6 Solve Multiplication Word Problems (Two-Step and Multi-Step)

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Free Printable Multi-Step Equations Worksheets for 4th Grade

Multi-Step Equations: Discover a vast collection of free printable math worksheets for Grade 4 students, designed to help them master solving multi-step equations with ease and confidence.

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Explore printable Multi-Step Equations worksheets for 4th Grade

Multi-Step Equations worksheets for Grade 4 are an essential resource for teachers looking to enhance their students' understanding of Math and Algebra concepts. These worksheets focus on One-Variable Equations and Solving Equations, providing a comprehensive learning experience for young learners. By incorporating these worksheets into their lesson plans, teachers can effectively teach students how to solve complex problems using a step-by-step approach. Moreover, these worksheets are designed to cater to the specific needs of Grade 4 students, ensuring that the content is age-appropriate and engaging. With a wide range of exercises and problems to solve, Multi-Step Equations worksheets for Grade 4 are a valuable tool for teachers to help their students excel in Math and Algebra.

In addition to Multi-Step Equations worksheets for Grade 4, Quizizz offers a plethora of resources for teachers to further enhance their students' learning experience. Quizizz is an online platform that provides interactive quizzes, games, and other engaging activities to make learning Math and Algebra more enjoyable for students. Teachers can use Quizizz to supplement their worksheets, offering a more dynamic and interactive approach to teaching One-Variable Equations and Solving Equations. Furthermore, Quizizz allows teachers to track their students' progress and identify areas where they may need additional support. By incorporating Quizizz into their lesson plans, teachers can create a well-rounded and effective learning environment for their Grade 4 students, ensuring that they develop a strong foundation in Math and Algebra concepts.