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:
- Megan is three times the number of marbles of her brother James.
- James has 13 marbles
How many marbles does Megan have?

Missing number problem

We can write this as a missing number problem with the equation:
- 3 × 13 = ?

Number fact

We can use our 3 times table to work out the answer:
- 3 × 3 = 9
- 3 × 10 = 30
30 + 9 = 39, so that means 3 × 13 = 39.

Answer

We have not finished yet because we need to answer the question.
- How many marbles does Megan have?
Megan has 39 marbles.

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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