Learn it
Some problems need two steps. Read carefully and ask: What do I know? What do I need to find first?
- Find the hidden first answer.
- Use it to answer the real question.
- Check if your answer makes sense.
You can use a letter, like n, for the unknown number.
Worked examples
Example 1
Ana buys 3 packs of 6 pencils. She gives away 5. How many does she have left?
- Step 1: total pencils 3 × 6 = 18
- Step 2: 18 − 5 = 13
Answer: 13 pencils
Example 2
Tickets cost $4 each. A family pays for 5 tickets with $30. How much change?
- Step 1: cost 5 × 4 = $20
- Step 2: change 30 − 20 = $10
Answer: $10
Practice
Try these on paper first, then check your work.
- 4 boxes of 8 crayons, plus 6 loose crayons. Total?
- 36 cookies shared by 4 kids, then each eats 2. How many does each have left?
- A book has 90 pages. Jo reads 20 pages a day for 3 days. Pages left?
- 7 rows of 5 chairs, then 9 more chairs. Total?
Show the answer key
- 38
- 7
- 30
- 44