Multi-Step Word Problems worksheet with six real-world math challenges for students.

Let's solve each of these multi-step word problems one by one, showing the reasoning and calculations clearly.

---

Problem 1:

Sandra read 5 books, Deacon read 6 books, and Breanna read 7 books. One book was read by all three children, but every other book was different. How many different books did the children read?

#### Solution:
We need to find the total number of different books read by the three children.

- Sandra: 5 books
- Deacon: 6 books
- Breanna: 7 books

But one book was read by all three, so it's counted in all three totals. The rest are all different.

So we can think of this as:

- Total books if no overlap: $5 + 6 + 7 = 18$
- But since one book is shared among all three, we have double-counted it twice (because it appears in all three counts).
- For example, if Book A is read by all three, it’s counted once in Sandra’s, once in Deacon’s, and once in Breanna’s — that’s 3 times, but it should only count once.
- So we need to subtract the extra two counts.

So:
$$
\text{Total different books} = 5 + 6 + 7 - 2 = 16
$$

✔ Answer: 16 different books

---

Problem 2:

In Science class, Sara needed 8 test tubes for 3 different experiments. The first experiment required 2 test tubes and the other two experiments required the same number of test tubes. How many test tubes were needed for each of the other two experiments?

#### Solution:
Total test tubes: 8
First experiment: 2 test tubes
Remaining test tubes for the other two experiments:
$$
8 - 2 = 6
$$
These 6 test tubes are split evenly between the other two experiments.

$$
6 \div 2 = 3
$$

✔ Answer: 3 test tubes for each of the other two experiments

---

Problem 3:

Branson and his sister Beatrice combined their allowance of $7 each, so they could buy a movie for $12. They bought $1 containers of fruit salad with the remaining money and split the containers evenly between them. How many containers of fruit salad did they each get?

#### Solution:
- Each has $7 → Combined: $7 + $7 = $14
- Movie cost: $12
- Remaining money: $14 - $12 = $2
- Each container of fruit salad costs $1 → So they can buy $2 ÷ $1 = 2 containers
- They split the 2 containers evenly → Each gets:
$$
2 \div 2 = 1
$$

✔ Answer: 1 container each

---

Problem 4:

Before Cam broke his right arm, he was able to type 9 words per minute on his phone. After he broke his arm, he had to use his left hand for a while, and he could only type 6 words per minute. What is the difference between the number of words he could type in 5 minutes before and after he broke his arm?

#### Solution:
- Before: 9 words/minute × 5 minutes = 45 words
- After: 6 words/minute × 5 minutes = 30 words
- Difference: $45 - 30 = 15$ words

✔ Answer: 15 words

---

Problem 5:

When Giselle decided to stop eating junk food, she started saving more of her allowance to buy a larger bicycle. She managed to put away $6 every week for 8 weeks and found a nice used bicycle for $50. She thought that she had close to that amount in her savings jar. Did she have exactly enough for the bicycle? If not, how much extra or how much too little did she have?

#### Solution:
- Savings per week: $6
- Number of weeks: 8
- Total saved: $6 × 8 = $48
- Bicycle cost: $50
- Difference: $50 - $48 = $2 short

She did not have enough. She was $2 short.

✔ Answer: No, she was $2 too little.

---

Problem 6:

Annie and Dustin took a beginner’s programming course over several weekends that showed them how to make simple video games. They spent most of their waking hours engaged in programming tasks and ended up with a game they called "Ro-Bot-Ro-Call." How many hours do you think they spent on their course? Show your work.

#### Solution:
This problem is open-ended because it says “how many hours do you think” — it’s asking for an estimate based on reasonable assumptions.

We need to make logical assumptions about:
- How many weekends they spent on the course
- How many hours per day they worked
- How many days per weekend

Let’s assume:
- They worked on two weekends (common for short courses)
- Each weekend has 2 days
- They worked most of their waking hours — let’s say 8 hours per day (a reasonable assumption)

Then:
- Days: $2 \text{ weekends} × 2 \text{ days} = 4 \text{ days}$
- Hours: $4 \text{ days} × 8 \text{ hours/day} = 32 \text{ hours}$

Alternatively, if they worked 3 weekends:
- $3 × 2 = 6 \text{ days}$
- $6 × 8 = 48 \text{ hours}$

But since it says “several weekends,” 2 to 3 is reasonable.

Let’s go with 2 weekends and 8 hours per day:
$$
2 \text{ weekends} × 2 \text{ days} × 8 \text{ hours} = 32 \text{ hours}
$$

✔ Answer (estimate): About 32 hours

> Note: This is an estimate. The exact number isn’t given, so any reasonable estimate based on assumptions is acceptable.

---

✔ Final Answers Summary:

1. 16 different books
2. 3 test tubes each
3. 1 container each
4. 15 words
5. No, $2 too little
6. About 32 hours (estimate based on 2 weekends, 8 hours/day)

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or visual explanation!