Clue Words
What operation might you use if you see the word "total" or "altogether?"
Addition (+)
24 x 7 = t
What does t equal?
t = 168
68 ÷ 4 = r
What does r equal?
r = 17
Ms. Martelli had 500 laptops. She received 50 more laptops for the school to use. She wanted to share the laptops equally among 5 classrooms.
What is the first step?
What is the second step?
First, you add 500 = 50.
Next, you divide that answer by 5.
A malt shop used 9 ounces of chocolate syrup in their shakes and 3 ounces of syrup on their cones. If they sold 8 shakes and 12 cones, how many ounces of chocolate would they use total? LABEL your answer.
108 ounces
What operation might you use if you see the words "how many more?" or "how many are left?"
Subtraction (-)
134 x 6 = v
What does v equal?
v = 804
91 ÷ 7 = f
What does f equal?
f = 13
Ms. Mansour bought 9 pieces of gym equipment for $200 dollars each. She was going to pay back the cost of all the equipment in equal payments over 6 months. How much would she pay per month.
What is the first step?
What is the second step?
First, multiply 9 x 200.
Next, divide that product by 6.
Mary is going to a comic fair. She wants to buy 7 comics, each one costs $22. It will also cost her $20 just to get in. How much money will it cost to get in and buy the comics?
$174
What operation might you use if you see the words: "each," "times," or "in all."
Multiplication (x)
12 x 15 = j
What does j equal?
j = 180
143 ÷ 4 = w
What does w equal?
(Check for a remainder)
w = 35 R3
Ms. Garland bought 90 scarves. She gave 10 scarves away to Ms. Santiago to use. Ms. Garland split the remaining scarves among her 8 classes. How many scarves did each of Ms. Garland's class receive?
What is the first step?
What is the second step?
First, subtract 90 - 10.
Next, divide that answer by 8.
There are different kinds of fish in a fish tank. 2/12 of them are rainbow fish. 7/12 of them are guppies and the rest are goldfish. What fraction of the fish are goldfish?
3/12 are goldfish
What operation might you use if you see the words: "each," "shared equally," or "equal parts."
Division (÷)
35 x 21 = m
What does m equal?
m = 735
619 ÷ 3 = n
What does n equal?
(Check for a remainder)
n = 206 R1
Ms. Forero is making a a new cookie recipe! For each cup of flour Ms. Forero uses, she needs to use 1/4 cup of chocolate chips. Ms. Forero add 8 cups of flour. Before mixing, she puts 1/4 cup more of chocolate chips to make the cookies super delicious. How many cups of chocolate chips did Ms. Forero use?
What is the first step?
What is the second step?
First, you multiply 8 x 1/4.
Next, you add 1/4 to your answer.
For a party, a chef cooked 4/5 cup of mashed potatoes in a pot. If the chef made 10 pots, how much mashed potatoes did he make?
10 x 4/5 = 40 ÷ 5 = 8 cups
What TWO operations might you use if you see the words "each" or "per?"
Multiplication (x) OR Division (÷)
*The only way to know is to read the problem closely!
57 x 81 = b
What does b equal?
b = 4,617
1428 ÷ 7 = y
What does y equal?
y = 204
Ms. Koutras was giving out candy to a small group of students. She had 56 pieces to give out. She shared it equally among 8 students. Before leaving for her next class, she gave 1 more piece to the each student. How many pieces of candy did each student get?
What is the first step?
What is the second step?
First, divide 56 by 8.
Second, add 1 to the product.
Oliver spent 2 ⅚ hours working on his math homework. He spent 1 3/6 hour on his reading homework. How much longer did Oliver work on his math homework?
2 5/6 - 1 3/6 = 1 2/6 hour = 1 1/3 hour