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Solve Two-Step Word Problems Using Multiplication and Division

Students solve two-step word problems that involve multiplication and/or division, with or without addition and subtraction. They identify the hidden question in the problem, solve it first, then use that result to answer the final question, writing equations with a letter for the unknown.

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Solve Two-Step Word Problems Using Multiplication and Division

Grade 3 · Two-Step Word Problems · question 1 of 3

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12 rungs. A star at the top.

Kofi packs 5 tins of 4 biscuits, then eats 2 biscuits. How many biscuits are left?

How it is taught

0:00 of 4:35

Two-step problems hide an inside calculation.

The hidden result is needed for the last question.

Read it: Two steps, in order

Sam buys 5 packs of 4 cards and gives 3 away. First 5 × 4 = 20, then 20 − 3 = 17.

  1. Work the first step: 5 packs of 4 is 5 × 4 = 20.
  2. Carry 20 down into the second step: he gives 3 away.
  3. Work the second step: 20 − 3 = 17 cards left.

The story asks about the end, so one step is not enough.

The first answer is the starting number of the second step.

Working the steps in the story's order keeps each number where it belongs.

Work the first step, carry its answer down, then work the second step.

Stopping at 20, the answer to the first step.

20 is how many he bought. He gives 3 away, so 20 − 3 = 17.

Mia buys 7 packs of 10 pencils, then finds 12 more. How many pencils does she have? — 82. 7 × 10 = 70, then 70 + 12 = 82.

5 bags × 6 marbles, shared with 3 friends

Let's read this carefully. Sam has five bags of marbles, with six marbles in each bag. He shares all the marbles equally with three friends. How many marbles does each friend get?

Two-step problems have a hidden question we need to answer first. Before we can share the marbles, we have to know how many Sam has in all.

Step one — find the total. Five bags times six marbles in each. We'll call the total m.

Five times six is thirty. So m equals thirty marbles.

Step two — share thirty marbles equally with three friends. We'll call each friend's share n.

Thirty divided by three is ten. So n equals ten.

Two-step word problemSam has 5 bags with 6 marbles each.He shares them equally with 3 friends.How many marbles does each friend get?First we need to know:How many marbles in all?Step 1: Find the total5 × 6 = mm = 30Step 2: Share equally30 ÷ 3 = nn = 10ANSWER10marbles each
Grade 3 · Find the hidden question, then solve

Each friend gets ten marbles. Find the hidden question, solve it, then use that answer to finish — that's how two-step problems work!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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