Word problems
Two-step equation word problems
Solve ten stories involving fixed fees and rates, budgets, halves and consecutive numbers. Choose number wording and print a separate answer key.
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One-step equation word problems
Find a missing starting amount, part, total or unit cost in ten short stories. Choose digits, number words or a mixture, and optional irrelevant information.
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Read the story, identify the requested quantity and show your reasoning. Include the correct unit in your answer.
Download the practice pages alone, or include a separate answer key or teacher model. Longer activities may use more than one page.
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Read, model, calculate, check
Ask learners to identify what is known and what the question asks. A drawing, timeline or equation can make the relationship visible before they calculate. Check the answer against the original story and keep its unit.
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More relationships to model
Try the expanded one-step story set
Ten stories cover missing starting amounts, missing parts, totals, unit costs, unknown amounts removed, unknown numbers of groups and totals shared equally. Identify what the unknown represents before choosing an inverse operation.
The original core set remains the default. Select the expanded set below to change number wording, extra information or printed language.
Customize the expanded story setLearning objective
What this activity builds
Represent an unknown quantity and undo one arithmetic operation to find it.
Worked example
After spending $17, Luca has $28 left. How much money did Luca have before the purchase?
x − 17 = 28, so x = 45 dollars.
The starting amount is unknown. Add back the expense to recover it.
Teaching notes
Make the practice count
- Let a box represent the unknown before introducing a letter.
- Describe the inverse operation in words.
- Substitute the answer into the original story as a final check.
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Related activities
Word problems
Missing addend word problems
Find an unknown part or starting quantity in ten stories. Select practice with or without regrouping, number wording and extra information, then print questions and answers.
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