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

Problem Types Across the Curriculum ◆ 45

The bakery is selling delicious treats. They are selling pies for $5 each,

cookies for $3 each and cupcakes for $2 each.

1. What is the most expensive treat?


2. What is the least expensive treat?


3. Which costs more, 3 pieces of pie or 4 cookies?


4. If Kate bought 1 of each treat, how much would she spend?


5. If Luke bought 2 pieces of pie and Kate bought 4 cookies, who
   spent more money? How much more money?


6. Tim bought 14 cupcakes. Matt bought 2 fewer cupcakes than Tim.
   Kate bought 4 more cupcakes than Tim. Make a bar diagram to
   show this story. How many cupcakes did each person buy? How
   many did they buy altogether? How much money did they spend?

$5 each

$3 each

$2 each

Figure 3.8

Elapsed Time Problems

Elapsed time problems are difficult for students. But, they don’t have to
be. First, we need to teach students to identify what they are looking for
(see Figures 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14 and 3.15). In an elapsed time
problem, we are looking for the start time, the middle time or the end
time. As with all word problems, it is important for students to first real-
ize what they are looking for.