Math word problems worksheet for elementary students with a number line for assistance.

Sure! Let’s solve each of the 6 word problems step by step, using simple reasoning and the number line if needed.

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Problem 1:
> I have 4 sides all the same size and I have 4 corners. What am I?

✔ Answer: A square

Explanation:
A shape with 4 equal sides and 4 corners (also called vertices) is a square. While a rectangle also has 4 corners, its sides are not all the same size — only opposite sides are equal. So the key phrase “all the same size” tells us it’s a square.

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Problem 2:
> It’s 1 o’clock in the afternoon and you are going to the fair in 4 hours. What time are you going to the fair?

✔ Answer: 5 o’clock in the afternoon

Explanation:
Start at 1 PM. Add 4 hours:
- 1 + 1 = 2
- 2 + 1 = 3
- 3 + 1 = 4
- 4 + 1 = 5

So, 1 PM + 4 hours = 5 PM

You can also use the number line: start at 1, count 4 steps forward → 2, 3, 4, 5.

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Problem 3:
> My sister and I have 7 feet of licorice. I have 4 feet, how many feet does my sister have?

✔ Answer: 3 feet

Explanation:
Total licorice = 7 feet
I have = 4 feet
Sister has = Total – Mine = 7 – 4 = 3 feet

Number line: Start at 7, jump back 4 steps → 6, 5, 4, 3. You land on 3.

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Problem 4:
> 7 birds were sitting on the tree branch. A loud noise scared some of them away. Now there are only 3 birds on the branch. How many birds did the loud noise scare away?

✔ Answer: 4 birds

Explanation:
Started with 7 birds. Now only 3 remain.
So, birds scared away = 7 – 3 = 4

Number line: Start at 7, go back to 3 → that’s 4 steps back.

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Problem 5:
> I’m thinking of an odd number. It’s greater than 6 but it’s less than 9. What could my odd number be?

✔ Answer: 7

Explanation:
Odd numbers between 6 and 9:
- Numbers greater than 6: 7, 8, 9...
- Less than 9: so 7 and 8
- Odd numbers among those: only 7 (since 8 is even)

So the only possible answer is 7

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Problem 6:
> Jane counted 3 flowers in the flower pot. Each flower has 3 petals. How many petals are there in all?

✔ Answer: 9 petals

Explanation:
Each flower has 3 petals. There are 3 flowers.
So total petals = 3 flowers × 3 petals = 9 petals

You can think of it as adding 3 three times: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9

Or use the number line: Start at 0, jump by 3s, three times → 3, 6, 9.

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✔ Final Answers:

1. Square
2. 5 o’clock in the afternoon
3. 3 feet
4. 4 birds
5. 7
6. 9 petals

Let me know if you’d like to visualize any of these with a drawn number line!