This is a level 3 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It relates to Stage 6 of the Number Framework.
A PDF of the student activity is included.
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choose an operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)to solve a word problem
use basic facts
classmate
This activity asks students to solve word problems involving numbers in real-life contexts and, in particular, to choose and use appropriate operations to solve a problem. Working in pairs will be helpful with these activities.
Read the first problem to the class, discuss it, and clarify what is happening in this situation. Discuss what numbers the students will need to use and decide which operation to use.
Make sure that the students check that they have got the right answer. For question 1, they could check by using the inverse operation 8 x 9 = 72 to verify their answer.
Questions 5–7 are more challenging because they involve fractions. You could ask the students how they would calculate fractions of certain amounts, for example, 2/5 of 10. Get them to demonstrate this with materials and use the same working for questions 5–7. In question 5, working backwards: 3/4 of the amount of cherries is 36, so 1/4 will be 36 ÷ 3 = 12, and 4/4 can be found with 12 x 4 = 48.
Discuss question 8 initially by writing up a calculation such as 25 – 11 = 14 and asking the students to devise story problems that may be relevant to this calculation.
Answers toActivity
Solutions and possible equations include:
1. 9 days: 72 ÷ 8 = 9
2. 25 pùkeko: 54 – 29 = 25
3. 16 pots of soup: 64 ÷ 4 = 16
4. 7 cousins: (96 ÷ 12) – 1 = 7
5. 48 cherries: 36 ÷ 3 x 4 = 48
6. 80 goals: 56 ÷ 7 x 10 = 80
7. 24 chapters: 8 x 3 = 24
8. Answers will vary.