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Multi-Step Word Problems · Grade 4
Reading a Problem for Meaning
Name
Date
For each problem: draw a model, write the equations you used, then answer in a full sentence. The picture comes first, the numbers follow it.
1.A bakery made 8 trays of muffins with 12 muffins on each tray. They sold 60 muffins. How many muffins are left?
Model
Equations
Answer - in a full sentence
Roots of Reason
Reading a Problem for Meaning
Name
Date
2.Maria read 24 pages on Monday and 3 times as many on Tuesday. How many pages did she read in all?
Model
Equations
Answer - in a full sentence
Roots of Reason
Reading a Problem for Meaning
Name
Date
3.A class has 6 groups, and each group needs 4 markers. Markers come in packs of 5. How many packs must the teacher buy?
Model
Equations
Answer - in a full sentence
Roots of Reason
rootsofreason.org
Multi-Step Word Problems · Grade 4
Reading a Problem for Meaning
1 · Muffins left = 36
Equations: 8 × 12 = 96 96 − 60 = 36
Sentence: There are 36 muffins left. Two steps: multiply, then subtract.
Sentence: There are 36 muffins left. Two steps: multiply, then subtract.
2 · Pages in all = 96
Equations: 24 × 3 = 72 24 + 72 = 96
Sentence: Maria read 96 pages in all. "3 times as many" is the multiplying comparison.
Sentence: Maria read 96 pages in all. "3 times as many" is the multiplying comparison.
3 · Packs to buy = 5
Equations: 6 × 4 = 24 24 ÷ 5 = 4 R4 → 5 packs
Sentence: The teacher must buy 5 packs. The remainder forces rounding up. You can't buy a partial pack.
Sentence: The teacher must buy 5 packs. The remainder forces rounding up. You can't buy a partial pack.
Problem 3 is the honest one. A student who writes "4.8 packs" understood the arithmetic but not the situation. That gap is worth naming out loud, not marking wrong and moving on.