Real-Life Problems

We can use our knowledge of number relationships, number facts and inverse operations to solve real-life problems. These are sometimes written down for us as word problems so that we can practise.

Word problems

Word problems are a way of writing down a real life maths problem we need to solve.
We need to work out what equation (number sentence) fits the word problem.
Then we need to find the missing number.

Example

Here is an example of a word problem:
- A school trip costs £306 altogether.
- The school will pay for £112 from the school fund.
- The pupils will pay the rest.
How much will they need to charge the pupils altogether?

Missing number problem

We can write this as a missing number problem with the equation:
- £112 + ? = £306
We solve this missing number problem by using inverse operations:
- £306 - £112 = ?

Estimate

We can use estimation to check our answer:
- £306 is near to £300
- £112 is near to £100
£300 - £100 is related to the number fact 3 - 1.
We can do this mentally:
- 3 - 1 = 2
- 300 - 100 = 200

Subtraction

We can use a subtraction calculation method to work out £306 - £112:
- £306 - £112 = £194
Our estimate was 200, so 194 seems reasonable.

Answer

We have not finished yet because we need to answer the question.
- How much will they need to charge the pupils altogether?
They will need to charge the pupils £194 altogether.

1Year 3 - Number

2Year 3 - Measurement

2.1Length

2.1.1Length

2.1.2Comparing Lengths

2.1.3Add & Subtract Lengths

2.1.4Perimeter

2.2Mass

2.2.1Mass

2.2.2Comparing Masses

2.2.3Add & Subtract Masses

2.3Volume & Capacity

2.3.1Volume & Capacity

2.3.2Comparing Volumes

2.3.3Add & Subtract Volumes

2.4Money

2.4.1Money

2.4.2Counting Money

2.4.3Adding & Subtracting Money

2.5Time

2.5.1Units of Time

2.5.2Clocks

2.5.3Telling the Time

2.5.4Time of the Day

2.5.512-Hour & 24-Hour Clocks

2.5.6Measuring Time

3Year 3 - Geometry

3.1Angles

3.1.1Angles in Degrees

3.1.2Types of Angle

3.2Properties of Shapes

3.2.12D Shapes

3.2.23D Shapes

3.3Straight Lines

3.3.1Straight Lines

3.3.2Parallel & Perpendicular Lines

4Year 3 - Statistics

4.1Statistics

4.1.1Statistics

4.1.2Pictograms & Bar Charts

5Year 4 - Number

6Year 4 - Measurement

6.1Units

6.1.1Metric Measurements

6.1.2Adding & Subtracting Money

6.2Time

6.2.1Converting Units of Time

6.2.2Changing the 12-Hour Clock to the 24-Hour Clock

6.2.3Changing the 24-hour Clock to the 12-Hour Clock

7Year 4 - Geometry

7.1Properties of Shapes

7.1.1Symmetry

7.1.2Types of Triangle

7.1.3Quadrilaterals

7.2Perimeter & Area

7.2.1Perimeter

7.2.2Area

7.3Position & Direction

7.3.1Coordinates

7.3.2Translation

8Year 4 - Statistics

8.1Statistics

8.1.1Types of Data

8.1.2Pictograms & Bar Charts

8.1.3Line Graphs

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