Real-life problems ✩

A builder uses 1,600 lb of sand a day. 3

How much will he use in 5 days? 1,600
x 5
8,000 lb 8,000

If he uses 9,500 lb the next week,

how much more has he used than 9,500
the week before? – 8,000
1,500
1,500 lb

An electrician uses 184 ft of cable while

working on four houses. If he uses the same
amount on each house, how much does
he use on one house?

A family looks at vacations in two different resorts.

The first one costs $846.95. The second costs $932.
How much will the family save if they choose
the cheaper resort?

Doris has 5 sections of fence, each 36 in.

wide. If she puts them together, how much
of her yard can she fence off?

Shula goes on a sponsored walk and collects

$15.95 from her mother, $8.36 from her uncle,
$4.65 from her brother, and $2.75 from her aunt.
How much does she
collect altogether?

A taxi company has 9 cars.

If each car holds 16.4 gallons of gasoline,
how many gallons will it take to fill all
of the cars?

© Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010]

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Real-life problems ✩ 1
7 1
2
3

A builder uses 1,600 lb of sand a day.

How much will he use in 5 days?
3
1,600
x 5
2 4
5
6

0
7
8,000 lb 8,000 8
9
If he uses 9,500 lb the next week, 7 10
how much more has he used than 9,500 11
the week before?
1,500 lb
– 8,000
1,500 6 12
13
14
15

An electrician uses 184 ft of cable while

working on four houses. If he uses the same
46
4 184
8 16
17
18
19
amount on each house, how much does
he use on one house?
16
24
24
1 20
21
46 ft 0 22

3
23
A family looks at vacations in two different resorts. 24
The first one costs $846.95. The second costs $932. 8 12 11 9 10
932.00
9 28
How much will the family save if they choose 5 29
– 846.95
the cheaper resort? 85.05 30
$85.05 31
32
Doris has 5 sections of fence, each 36 in.
wide. If she puts them together, how much 36
x 5
3
4 33
34
35
of her yard can she fence off?
180 in.
180 9 36
37
38
Shula goes on a sponsored walk and collects
$15.95 from her mother, $8.36 from her uncle,
$4.65 from her brother, and $2.75 from her aunt.
22 2
1 5.95
8.36 3 2 39
40
41
4.65
How much does she + 2.75 42
collect altogether? $31.71 31.71 43
44
A taxi company has 9 cars.
If each car holds 16.4 gallons of gasoline,
53
16.4
5 45
46

6
47
how many gallons will it take to fill all x 9 48
of the cars? 147.6 49
147.6 gallons 50
9 51

2 7 2
2

111
7
8

6
9
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This page provides an opportunity to apply the skills practiced. Children

0

4
3

will need to select the operation necessary. If they are unsure about which
operation to use, discuss whether the answer will be larger or smaller, which
narrows down the options.
© Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010]