Math Practice Problems - Basic Word Problems

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Basic Word Problems - Sample Math Practice Problems

The math problems below can be generated by MathScore.com, a math practice program for schools and individual families. References to complexity and mode refer to the overall difficulty of the problems as they appear in the main program. In the main program, all problems are automatically graded and the difficulty adapts dynamically based on performance. Answers to these sample questions appear at the bottom of the page. This page does not grade your responses.

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Complexity=9, Mode=addOnly

Solve.

Complexity=5, Mode=subOnly

Solve.

Complexity=9, Mode=subOnly

Solve.

Complexity=9, Mode=AddSub

Solve.

Complexity=9, Mode=advAdd

Solve.

Complexity=9, Mode=advSub

Solve.

Complexity=9, Mode=advAddSub

Solve.

Answers

Complexity=5, Mode=addOnly

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 2 bell peppers and 1 beet in a basket. How many vegetables are there?

vegetables

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Total number of vegetables.
What information are you given?
  There are 2 bell peppers and 1 beet.
  Bell peppers and beets are vegetables.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the amount in the two groups but not the total, this implies addition (+).
Equation
  2 + 1 = 3

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

You have 3 magazines. Miguel gives you 1 more. How many total magazines do have?

magazines

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Total number of magazines you have.
What information are you given?
  You have 3 magazines.  
  You get 1 more magazine from Miguel.
Which operation should you use?
  The key word total in the question implies addition (+).
Equation
  3 + 1 = 4

Complexity=9, Mode=addOnly

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 6 peaches and 2 cherries in a basket. How many pieces of fruit are there?

pieces of fruit

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Total number of pieces of fruit.
What information are you given?
  There are 6 peaches and 2 cherries.
  Peaches and cherries are pieces of fruit.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the amount in the two groups but not the total, this implies addition (+).
Equation
  6 + 2 = 8

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

Jose has 4 magazines. Mike gives him 1 more. How many total magazines does have?

magazines

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Total number of magazines Jose has.
What information are you given?
  Jose has 4 magazines.  
  He gets 1 more magazine from Mike.
Which operation should you use?
  The key word total in the question implies addition (+).
Equation
  4 + 1 = 5

Complexity=5, Mode=subOnly

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 5 animals in a zoo. Two are snakes and the rest are monkeys. How many monkeys are there?

monkeys

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of monkeys.
What information are you given?
  Out of 5 animals, 2 are snakes.
  The rest are monkeys.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in one of the two groups, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  5 - 2 = 3

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

Maria sees 4 pieces of candy in a candy dish. Two are gumdrops and the rest are candy bars. How many candy bars are there?

candy bars

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of candy bars.
What information are you given?
  Out of 4 pieces of candy, 2 are gumdrops.
  The rest are candy bars.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in one of the two groups, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  4 - 2 = 2

Complexity=9, Mode=subOnly

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 10 animals in a zoo. Five are snakes and the rest are giraffes. How many giraffes are there?

giraffes

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of giraffes.
What information are you given?
  Out of 10 animals, 5 are snakes.
  The rest are giraffes.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in one of the two groups, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  10 - 5 = 5

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

Mary sees 7 animals in a zoo. Four are snakes and the rest are zebras. How many zebras are there?

zebras

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of zebras.
What information are you given?
  Out of 7 animals, 4 are snakes.
  The rest are zebras.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in one of the two groups, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  7 - 4 = 3

Complexity=9, Mode=AddSub

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

Mike has 14 pencils. He gives Sharon 5 pencils. How many pencils does Mike have left?

pencils

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of pencils Mike has left.
What information are you given?
  Mike has 14 pencils.  
  He gives away 5 pencils to Sharon.
Which operation should you use?
  The key word left in the question means something was taken away.
  This implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  14 - 5 = 9

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 9 potatoes and 1 mushroom on a table. How many vegetables are there?

vegetables

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Total number of vegetables.
What information are you given?
  There are 9 potatoes and 1 mushroom.
  Potatoes and mushrooms are vegetables.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the amount in the two groups but not the total, this implies addition (+).
Equation
  9 + 1 = 10

Complexity=9, Mode=advAdd

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 8 blue gems, 6 white gems, and 6 yellow gems on a bracelet. How many white and yellow gems are there?

gems

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of white and yellow gems.
What information are you given?
  There are 6 white gems.
  There are 6 yellow gems.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the amount in the two groups but not the total, this implies addition (+).
Equation
  6 + 6 = 12

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

John sends 1 card in October, 2 cards in November, and 9 cards in December. How many cards did he send altogether?

cards

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of cards John sent altogether.
What information are you given?
  John sent 1 card in October.
  He sent 2 cards in November.
  He sent 9 cards in December.
Which operation should you use?
  The key word altogether in the question implies addition (+).
Equation
  1 + 2 + 9 = 12

Complexity=9, Mode=advSub

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

Mike has 6 cookies. Mary gives him more. Now Mike has 7 cookies. How many cookies did Mary give him?

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of cookies Mary gave Mike.
What information are you given?
  Mike started with 6 cookies.
  He ended up with 7 cookies
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in one out of two groups, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  7 - 6 = 1

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 11 party hats at a party. Two are green and 3 are purple. The rest are brown. How many brown party hats are there?

party hats

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of brown party hats.
What information are you given?
  Out of 11 party hats, 2 are green and 3 are purple.
  The rest are brown.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in all but one group, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  11 - 2 - 3 = 6

Complexity=9, Mode=advAddSub

Solve.

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

There are 14 chairs at a party. Eight are yellow and 2 are black. The rest are orange. How many orange chairs are there?

chairs

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of orange chairs.
What information are you given?
  Out of 14 chairs, 8 are yellow and 2 are black.
  The rest are orange.
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in all but one group, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  14 - 8 - 2 = 4

Problem

Correct Answer

Your Answer

Peter has 4 pens. Jose gives him more. Now Peter has 11 pens. How many pens did Jose give him?

pens

Solution

What is the problem asking for?
  Number of pens Jose gave Peter.
What information are you given?
  Peter started with 4 pens.
  He ended up with 11 pens
Which operation should you use?
  Since you know the total and the amount in one out of two groups, this implies subtraction (-).
Equation
  11 - 4 = 7

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