Grades 3-5 Math Problem Solving in Action_ Getting Students to Love Word Problems

Figure 3.2

Melissa said she would make 4-dozen cupcakes. One-fourth of the cupcakes

will be vanilla, ½ of the cupcakes will be chocolate and the rest will be

strawberry.

1. How many of each will she make?


2. If ½ of the chocolate will have sprinkles, how many cupcakes will have
   sprinkles?

Result

Unknown

Change

Unknown

Start

Unknown

Part-Part-

Whole Whole

Unknown

Part-Part-Whole

Part Unknown

Joel had

$589. He

got $345

more for his

birthday.

How much

does he

have now?

Tom had

$409. He

saved some

more. Now

he has

$1,000. How

much did

he save?

Mike had

some money.

He got

$234 more.

Now he has

$700. How

much did he

have in the

beginning?

Maribel had

35 quarters

and 25 dimes.

How much

money did

she have

altogether?

Joel went to the

store with $160. He

bought a shirt, a

pair of pants and

some socks. He

spent half of his

money on pants.

He spent^1 ⁄ 8 of his

money on socks.

He spent the rest

of his money on a

shirt. How much

did he spend on

each item?

Figure 3.3 Money Word Problem Types