Mixed Word Problems!
Josef has 2 2/3 bags of popcorn. Edo has 1 ¾ bags of popcorn. How much do they have together?
"Together" indicates we add. 4 5/12.
Objects on Neptune weigh about 4/5 of their weight on Earth. If a dog weighs 40 pounds on Earth, how much would it weigh on Neptune?
Multiply. A dog weighs 4/5 of its weight on Neptune. 4/5 of 40 pounds. We are asking, "What is 4/5 OF 40?" Answer: 32
Mrs. Campbell made cookies. One recipe calls for 3 ¼ cups of flour. The second recipe calls for 2 1/5 cups flour. How much flour did she use in all?
"In all" is a clue to add! 5 9/20
Mrs. Campbell is making holiday treats. She needs 5 cups of flour. She has 1 1/3 cups of flour. How much more flour does she need?
"How much more," indicates we are looking for a difference in what she needs and what she has. Subtract. Answer: 3 2/3.
Before she went to the hairdresser, Sheila's hair was 7 1/2 inches long. When she left the salon, it was 5 1/4 inches long. How much of her hair did Sheila cut off?
Subtract. 2 1/4 inches. You are looking for the difference in how long her hair was and how long it is now.
Jennifer's family has to travel 78 1/5 miles to see her grandmother. They have already traveled 32 1/3 miles. How much farther do they have to go?
You need to subtract. "How much farther" indicated you were looking for the difference in how far they have to go and how far they had already gone. A difference is an answer to a subtraction problem! Answer: 45 13/15
Jordyn has a jumprope that is 6 1/3 feet long. Taylor's jumprope is 4 2/3 feet long. How much longer is Jordyn's rope?
Subtract! Clue phrase, "How much longer," so we know we are looking for a difference. Answer: 1 2/3.
Hannah counted 21 pieces of candy. She ate 4/7 of the candy. How much candy did she eat?
Multiply! Hannah ate 4/7 of the candy. She ate 4/7 OF 21 pieces of candy. We are asking, "What is 4/7 OF 21." Answer: 12
Ms. Smith has 2 pounds of chocolate. She will use 2/3 of the chocolate for her holiday truffles. How much will she use?
Multiply. Ms. Smith used 2/3 of the chocolate. 2/3 OF 2 lbs. chocolate. Answer: 1 1/3 pounds
In the US, 3/25 of the population is left-handed males. 1/10 are left-handed females. What part of the population is left-handed?
Since all the lefties are either male of female, we are adding to find the total. 11/50
Casey has won ¾ of her hockey games. She has played 24 games. How many has she won?
Multiply! Casey won 3/4 of her games. 3/4 of 24 games. Answer: 18
Ms. Jones has 4 2/3 lbs of potatoes. She used 1/3 of the potatoes. How many lbs of potatoes did she use?
Multiply! Ms. Jones used 1/3 of the 4 2/3 pounds of potatoes. Answer: 1 5/9
Before she went to the hairdresser, Sheila's hair was 7 1/2 inches long. When she left the salon, it was 5 1/4 inches long. How much of her hair did Sheila cut off?
Subtract. We are looking for the difference between the length of Sheila's hair before and after. Answer: 2 1/4 inches
Ben and Daniel wanted to see who was taller. They had their mom measure their heights with a yardstick. Ben was 52 3/8 inches tall, and Daniel was 48 1/3 inches tall. How much taller is Ben than Daniel?
Subtract. "How much taller," indicates we are looking for a difference. Answer: 4 1/24.
A pot of chili holds 12 cups. Each person eats 3/4 cup. How many portions of chili can you make with 12 cups?
Divide! You are taking a total amount of 12 cups and seeing how many 3/4 cups portions go into making up the 12 cups. Answer: 16
Neo is making samples of one of her fashion designs. She has 14 yards of fabric. Each sample takes 2 ¼ yards of fabric. How many samples can she make?
Divide! The clue is you are taking a total amount (14 yards) and seeing how many 2 1/4 yards pieces Neo can cut from the 14 yards. Answer: 6 2/9
Lilli bought 14 yards of material to make chair cushions. She cut the material into pieces 1 ¾ yards long to make each cushion. How many cushions did Lilli make?
Divide! The clue is, you are taking a total amount (14 yards) and seeing how many 1 3/4 yards pieces Lilli can cut. Answer: 8
A group of Boy Scouts are cutting rope to prepare for their next rock climbing activity. They have 24 ft of rope, and each Boy Scout will need 3 1/5 ft of rope for his gear. How many Boy Scouts will get their rope?
Divide! You are starting with the total amount of 24 ft of rope, and you are seeing how many 3 1/5 feet pieces the Boy Scouts can cut from that. Answer: 7 1/2
Mary needs 3/7 cup of sugar to bake a cake. How much will she need to bake 3 cakes?
Multiply/Add. We could add 3/7 three times, but anytime we can repeatedly add, we can also multiply. Answer 1 2/7
If one batch of cookies calls for 1 2/3 cups flour, how much flour will you need for 8 batches?
Multiply/Add. We could add 1 2/3 eight times, but anytime you can repeatedly add, you can also multiply! Answer: 13 1/3
Most people dream about ¼ of the time they sleep. How long will you probably dream tonight if you sleep 8 hours?
Multiply. Most people dream 1/4 of the time they sleep, so we're asking, "What is 1/4 OF 8?" Answer: 2 hours
Ms. Campbell had 18 lbs of oranges. She gave away 5/6 of the oranges. How much did she keep for her family?
Multiply. She gave away 5/6 of the oranges. She kept 1/6 "What is 1/6 OF 18 lbs?" Answer: 3 lbs
If Margaret's hair grows 1/2 inch per month, how many months will it take for her hair to grow 12 inches?
Answer: Divide 12 by 1/2 = 24 months
Mrs. Adamick ate 1/2 the pizza. Mr. Adamick ate 1/4 of what was left. What fraction of the pizza did Mr. Adamick eat?
Multiply (1/4 of 1/2). Mr. Adamick ate 1/8 of the pizza.
Bev wants to make 9 portions of play clay for her daughter's birthday party. If each recipe calls for 2/3 teaspoons of salt, how much salt will she need?
Multiply! EACH recipe needs 2/3 teaspoons salt, and you are making 9 portions. Answer: 6 teaspoons