Lesson 51: Multiplication and Division Word

ProblemsMs. Jamie Scordino

3rd Grade Math

Key Words

In word problems there are often key words that help you know what to do. Knowing key words, makes solving word problems much easier.

Words that mean addition

add addends sum

total altogether plus

both increasemore

from now boughtin all

Words in green sometimes mean something different

than add

Example Problem

Jose had 8 pencils in his desk. He found 3 more pencils. How many pencils does Jose have in all?

Number sentence: 8 + 3 = 11

Jose has 11 pencils.

In All

Words that mean subtraction

difference subtract minus

sold spent

how many are not how much more

how many more how many are left

Example Problem Cameron has 18 baseball cards. Shania has 24 cards. How many more cards does Shania have then Cameron?

Number sentence: 24- 18= 6

Shania has 6 more cards.

How many

more

Words that mean multiplication

multiply multiplicand product

of increased times

each equal groups rows

columns

Words in green sometimes mean something different than

multiplication

Example Problem Ms. Scordino’s class has 5 rows with 6 students in each row. How many students are there in Ms. Scordino’s class?

Number Sentence: 5 x 6 = 30 There are 30 students.

e

ach

Words that mean division

per divide quotient

remainder out of percent

split equal groups rows

columns

Words in green sometimes mean something different

than division

Example Problem Mrs. Wang planted 42 seeds in her garden. She planted 7 equal rows or plants. How many seeds did she plant per row?

Number Sentence: 42 / 7 = 6There are 6 seeds in each row.

p

er

Be CarefulSometimes key words stand for more than one operation. These are just helpful clues that usually will work. Drawing a picture, making a chart are two other strategies that will help you solve a word problem.

Your Turn

Thank you for a great lesson!