Martin Luther King Jr.

Word Problems

A Math Lab Featuring the Life and

Accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

23 word problems for fourth - sixth grade

including the following Math concepts:
multi-digit multiplication
long division
multiplying money
time
percentages
subtraction with regrouping
reading a timeline and solving related
problems
Using a map scale to find distance
 On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a huge
crowd at the Lincoln Memorial. It was there that he gave his
famous I Have a Dream speech. This was just one of the many
highlights of his historic life. The problems that follow are based
on the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I n h i s 17 m i n u t e How many years ago
speech, Dr. King called did Dr. King give his
for an end to racism. historic I Have a
If he gave his speech Dream speech?
19 times, how long
would his speeches
last?

Dr. King says I Have a Dr. King was born

Dream 11 times in January 15, 1929
his speech. If he were and died April 4,
to give his speech 27 1968. How old was
more times, how many
he when he died?
times would he say, I
Have a Dream?

How many months How many days old

old was Dr. King was Dr. King when
when he died? he died?
 Key
I n h i s 17 m i n u t e
speech, Dr. King called
for an end to racism.
If he gave his speech
19 times, how long
would his speeches
last?
17 x 19 = 323 minutes
323 min 60 =
5 hours, 23 minutes
Dr. King says I Have a
Dream 11 times in
his speech. If he were
to give his speech 27
more times, how many
times would he say, I
Have a Dream?
11 x 27 = 297 times
How many months
old was Dr. King
when he died?
39 x 12 = 468 months +
2 months = 470 months,
20 days
How many years ago
did Dr. King give his
historic I Have a
Dream speech?
2013
-1963
50 years
(Though some students
might give a more exact
answer, since it wasnt until
August!)
Dr. King was born
January 15, 1929
and died April 4,
1968. How old was
he when he died?
1968
-1929
39 years, 2months, 20
days
How many days old
was Dr. King when
he died?
470 x 30 = 14,100
14,100 + 20 = 14,120
Dr. Kings speech In 1965, Dr. King led a Using a map and a
march from Selma, AL to scale, how many miles
was heard by Montgomery, AL to apart are Selma,
250,000. If 20% of demand voting reforms. Alabama and
those people left Of the 600 marchers, 72
M o n t g o m e r y,
early, how many were injured (2 were
Alabama?
killed). What fraction of
people remained at the marchers was not
the speech? injured or killed?

Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday has been Dr. King helped lead
Day is celebrated the celebrated every year a bus boycott in
third Monday of every since it went into Montgomery
January. What is the effect in 1986. How
Alabama in 1955.
earliest date this could many years has this
holiday been It lasted 388 days.
fall on? What is the
latest date? celebrated, including How many weeks is
this year? this?

How many hours did If the bus companies in In May 1958, Dr. King
the bus boycott in the city of Montgomery led a civil rights march
usually earned $10,983 to Washington D.C.
Montgomery last? each day from business There were 37,000
the boycotting passengers people there. If they
would have paid, how broke into 9 groups
much money did the city when they arrived, how
of Montgomery lose due many people would be
to the bus boycott? in each group?
Dr. Kings speech In 1965, Dr. King led a Using a map and a
march from Selma, AL to scale, how many miles
was heard by Montgomery, AL to apart are Selma,
250,000. If 20% of demand voting reforms. Alabama and
those people left Of the 600 marchers, 72
M o n t g o m e r y,
early, how many were injured (2 were
Alabama?
killed). What fraction of
people remained at the marchers was not
the speech? injured or killed?
20% = 50,000 Approximately 47 miles
600 - 74 = 526
250,000 - 50,000 = 526/600 or 263/300
200,000

Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday has been Dr. King helped lead
Day is celebrated the celebrated every year a bus boycott in
third Monday of every since it went into Montgomery
January. What is the effect in 1986. How
Alabama in 1955.
earliest date this could many years has this
holiday been It lasted 388 days.
fall on? What is the
latest date? celebrated, including How many weeks is
Earliest - January 15 this year? this?
Latest - January 21 2013 - 1986 = 27 years 388 7 = 55 weeks, 3
days

How many hours did If the bus companies in In May 1958, Dr. King
the bus boycott in the city of Montgomery led a civil rights march
usually earned $10,983 to Washington D.C.
Montgomery last? each day from business There were 37,000
the boycotting passengers people there. If they
388 x 24 = 9,312 hours would have paid, how broke into 9 groups
much money did the city when they arrived, how
of Montgomery lose due many people would be
to the bus boycott? in each group?
388 x $10,983 = 37,000 9 = 4,111 r1
$4,261,404

Key

1944
MLK Jr. graduates from high
school and starts Morehouse
College
1951
Enters Boston College for
graduate studies
1955
Joins Montgomery Bus
Boycott
1959
Visits India to study
Ghandis philosophy of
nonviolence
August 28, 1963
MLK Jr. gives his famous I
Have a Dream speech in
front of 250,000 people.
December, 1964
MLK Jr. becomes the
youngest person ever to
receive the Nobel Peace
Prize.
November 2, 1986
A National holiday is
declared in Dr. MLK Jr.s
honor
January 15, 1929
Martin Luther King Jr. is Born
in Atlanta, Georgia
1948
MLK Jr. graduates from
Morehouse College and
enters Seminary (ordained in
same year.)
1953
Marries Coretta Scott
1957
Begins Southern Christian
Leadership Conference to
fight segregation
1960
Becomes co-pastor of
Ebeneezer Baptist Church
with his father
January, 1964
MLK Jr. is named Time
Magazines Man of the Year.
April 4, 1968
MLK Jr. is fatally shot in
Memphis, Tennessee.
2000
For the first time, all 50
states recognize and observe
Dr. MLK Jr. Day.
Highlights from MLK Jr.s Life
Using the timeline to the left, answer the
following questions about Dr. MLK Jr.
How many years old How many years
was Martin Luther passed between the
King Jr. when he time Martin Luther
graduated from King Jr. was ordained
college? and when he became
a co-pastor with his
father?
How much time How old was MLK Jr.
passed between the when he graduated
time Martin Luther from high school?
King Jr. gave his I
Have a Dream
speech, and he was
named Man of the
Year?
How many years How old was MLK Jr.
passed between the when he gave his I
time MLK Jr. died and Have a Dream
the time a national speech?
holiday was declared
in his honor?
How many years from How old would MLK
the time it was Jr. have been this
declared a holiday did January?
it take all the states to
recognize MLK Jr. Day?

1944
MLK Jr. graduates from high
school and starts Morehouse
College
1951
Enters Boston College for
graduate studies
1955
Joins Montgomery Bus
Boycott
1959
Visits India to study
Ghandis philosophy of
nonviolence
August 28, 1963
MLK Jr. gives his famous I
Have a Dream speech in
front of 250,000 people.
December, 1964
MLK Jr. becomes the
youngest person ever to
receive the Nobel Peace
Prize.
November 2, 1986
A National holiday is
declared in Dr. MLK Jr.s
honor
January 15, 1929
Martin Luther King Jr. is Born
in Atlanta, Georgia
1948
MLK Jr. graduates from
Morehouse College and
enters Seminary (ordained in
same year.)
1953
Marries Coretta Scott
1957
Begins Southern Christian
Leadership Conference to
fight segregation
1960
Becomes co-pastor of
Ebeneezer Baptist Church
with his father
January 3, 1964
MLK Jr. is named Time
Magazines Man of the Year.
April 4, 1968
MLK Jr. is fatally shot in
Memphis, Tennessee.
2000
For the first time, all 50
states recognize and observe
Dr. MLK Jr. Day.
KEY
How many years old How many years
was Martin Luther passed between the
King Jr. when he time Martin Luther
graduated from King Jr. was ordained
college? and when he became
19 years old a co-pastor with his
father?
12 years
How much time passed How old was MLK Jr.
between the time Martin when he graduated
Luther King Jr. gave his from high school?
I Have a Dream
speech, and he was 15 years old
named Man of the Year?
Approx. 4 months, 6
days
How many years How old was MLK Jr.
passed between the when he gave his I
time MLK Jr. died and Have a Dream
the time a national speech?
holiday was declared 34 years, 7 months,
in his honor? 13 days
18 years, almost 7
months
How many years from How old would MLK
the time it was Jr. have been this
declared a holiday did January?
it take all the states to 84 years old
recognize MLK Jr. Day?
14 years