Operations & Algebraic Thinking
Multi-Step Word Problems
Solving word problems that require more than one operation.
Problems with More Than Two Steps
In Grade 2, a two-step word problem combined two operations. Grade 3 added multiplication and division to the mix. This lesson combines everything so far — all four operations can now appear in the same multi-step problem, in any combination.
The same strategy that worked for two-step problems still applies: solve one step completely, use that result as the starting point for the next step, and keep going until every part of the story has been addressed.
Worked Example — Combining Multiplication and Subtraction
Worked Example — Combining Addition and Division
Tip
Common Mistakes
Performing the steps out of order, such as subtracting before finishing the multiplication that produces the number to subtract from.
Solve the steps in the order the story actually happens — find any needed total or product first, before using it in a later step.
Stopping after solving only part of the story, missing that another action still needs to be applied.
Reread the question after each step and check whether every action described in the story has been accounted for.
Key Takeaways
- A multi-step word problem can combine any of the four operations, in any order the story requires.
- Solve each step completely before moving to the next, using the previous result as the new starting point.
- Listing each action in the story before calculating helps avoid missing a step.
Summary
Multi-step word problems chain together everything learned about the four operations so far. The next lesson looks closely at one detail multi-step division problems often raise — what to do with a leftover remainder.
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