Math Problem Solving Worksheets For Grade 6 | Free Worksheets Samples - Free Printable

Let's solve each word problem step by step and explain the solution clearly.

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Problem 1:

Lucas is making cookies for a school field trip. Lucas had 50 kids in his 8th grade class. If Lucas wanted to ensure each child got 5 cookies, how many cookies should he make?

Solution:
- Number of kids = 50
- Cookies per child = 5
- Total cookies needed = 50 × 5 = 250

✔ Answer: 250 cookies

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Problem 2:

Sarah noticed that ¼ of her clothes were sitting on the ground. She also noticed that she had ½ of her clothes laying in the bathroom. How many items of clothes did Sarah have that weren’t in her closet?

Solution:
We are told:
- ¼ of clothes are on the ground
- ½ of clothes are in the bathroom

But we don't know the total number of clothes. However, the question asks: How many items were not in her closet?

So we assume the total clothes = T
Clothes not in the closet = clothes on the ground + clothes in the bathroom
= ¼T + ½T = (1/4 + 2/4)T = ¾T

So 3/4 of her clothes were not in the closet.

But the question asks "how many items" — this implies a number. Since no total is given, perhaps we need to interpret it differently.

Wait — unless there’s an assumption that "clothes on the ground" and "in the bathroom" are separate from the closet, and these two fractions add up.

But ¼ + ½ = ¾, so ¾ of her clothes are not in the closet.

However, without knowing the total number of clothes, we can only express the answer as a fraction.

But maybe the question expects us to realize that all clothes not in the closet = ¼ + ½ = ¾, but again, we can't give a number without total.

Unless... maybe the question assumes the total is implied or missing?

Wait — perhaps we’re meant to recognize that the clothes not in the closet = those on the ground + those in the bathroom = ¼ + ½ = ¾.

But since no total is given, we can't compute a number.

Wait — perhaps the question is asking for the fraction of clothes not in the closet?

But it says “how many items”, which suggests a number.

This seems incomplete unless we assume a total.

But maybe we're supposed to understand that some clothes may be counted twice? For example, could clothes be both on the ground and in the bathroom? Probably not.

So assuming no overlap:

Total not in closet = ¼ + ½ = ¾

But still — no total number.

Wait — perhaps this is a trick question: if ¼ are on the ground and ½ are in the bathroom, then ¾ are not in the closet.

But unless we know the total, we can't say “how many”.

So unless the total is implied, this problem is unsolvable numerically.

But maybe the question is designed to teach fractions — and we just state the fraction.

But it says “how many items”, so likely a number is expected.

Wait — perhaps the total is missing? Or maybe we misread.

Alternatively, maybe the idea is that all clothes are either in the closet, on the ground, or in the bathroom, and we’re to find what fraction is not in the closet.

But again, without total, we can’t give a number.

Wait — perhaps the problem is expecting us to say 3/4 of her clothes were not in the closet, but since it asks for “how many”, and no total is given, this problem is missing information.

But let’s check the original text: “How many items of clothes did Sarah have that weren’t in her closet?”

No total given. So cannot be solved numerically.

But maybe it's a typo or assumption that total is 100? Or perhaps we're supposed to leave it in terms of a variable?

Alternatively, maybe the intention is to realize that only 1/4 + 1/2 = 3/4 are outside the closet, so 3/4 of her clothes are not in the closet.

But again, without total, we can’t give a number.

👉 Conclusion: This problem is missing the total number of clothes. So it cannot be solved as-is.

But maybe the intent is to find the fraction: 3/4.

But since it says “how many items”, and no total, we must assume a mistake.

Wait — perhaps the question means: if ¼ are on the ground and ½ are in the bathroom, and these are the only places clothes are, then ¾ are not in the closet.

But still — no number.

Perhaps we’re to assume a total? Like 100? But not stated.

Let’s move on and come back.

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Problem 3:

Mitsy the cat loved to eat tuna. He wanted to make sure that he had enough tuna for the whole week. If Mitsy ate ½ a can of tuna a day, how many cans would he need for a whole week?

Solution:
- Tuna per day = ½ can
- Days in a week = 7
- Total tuna = 7 × ½ = 3.5 cans

✔ Answer: 3.5 cans

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Problem 4:

There are 90 kids that attend Harlem High School. If 40 are in Mrs. Fetter’s class, and 20 are in Mrs. Cassy’s class, what percent make up the last classroom?

Solution:
- Total students = 90
- Mrs. Fetter’s class = 40
- Mrs. Cassy’s class = 20
- Students in other classes = 90 - 40 - 20 = 30
- Percent in last classroom = (30 / 90) × 100% = 33.33...% ≈ 33.3%

✔ Answer: 33.3% (or exactly 1/3)

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Problem 5:

Bradley was passing out fliers to different neighborhoods. There were 20 neighborhoods that he wanted to hit. If each neighborhood had 83 houses, how many fliers would Bradley need?

Solution:
- Number of neighborhoods = 20
- Houses per neighborhood = 83
- Total fliers needed = 20 × 83

Calculate:
20 × 83 = 20 × (80 + 3) = (20×80) + (20×3) = 1600 + 60 = 1660

✔ Answer: 1660 fliers

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Back to Problem 2:

Let’s re-express it carefully.

> Sarah noticed that ¼ of her clothes were sitting on the ground. She also noticed that she had ½ of her clothes laying in the bathroom. How many items of clothes did Sarah have that weren’t in her closet?

Assuming:
- Clothes are either in the closet, on the ground, or in the bathroom.
- No overlap between locations.
- Then: clothes not in closet = on ground + in bathroom = ¼ + ½ = ¾

But we still don’t know the total number.

Unless… the question is asking for the fraction? But it says “how many items”.

Possibility: Maybe the total is implied by context? Or perhaps it’s a trick.

Wait — maybe “her clothes” refers to a total that we’re supposed to infer?

But no.

Another thought: Could “¼ of her clothes were on the ground” and “½ were in the bathroom” mean that these are parts of the same total, and thus ¾ are not in the closet, but again, no number.

Unless the total is 100? But not stated.

Alternatively, perhaps the question is flawed.

But in many such problems, sometimes they expect you to realize that the fraction not in the closet is ¾, even if the number isn’t computable.

But since it asks “how many items”, and no total is given, this problem is unsolvable.

Unless… wait — maybe “her clothes” refers to the clothes she owns, and we are to assume a total? But no.

Wait — perhaps the total is implied by the fractions adding to more than 1?

¼ + ½ = ¾ < 1 → possible.

But still, no total.

So unless the total is given elsewhere, this is impossible.

But perhaps the intention is to add the fractions: ¼ + ½ = ¾ → so ¾ of her clothes are not in the closet.

But the question says “how many items”, so unless we assume total = 100, we can’t give a number.

Maybe it's a typo and total is 100?

But not stated.

So I think this problem is missing information.

But perhaps in the original image, there’s a total? But in your text, it’s not included.

So based on current info, we can only say:

Sarah had ¾ of her clothes not in the closet, but without knowing the total number of clothes, we cannot determine how many items.

But since this is a grade 6 worksheet, maybe the expectation is to add the fractions and report the result as a fraction.

But the question says “how many items”, so likely expects a number.

Alternatively, maybe “her clothes” includes only those mentioned?

But that doesn’t help.

Wait — another interpretation: maybe the total clothes are the sum of the three categories?

But again, no total.

I think this problem is flawed.

But let’s suppose the total number of clothes is T, then:

Not in closet = ¼T + ½T = ¾T

So unless T is known, we can’t find a number.

Thus, no numerical answer possible.

But maybe the question is: What fraction of her clothes were not in the closet?

Then answer: 3/4

But it says “how many items”, so likely a number.

So unless we assume T = 100, we can’t.

But let’s assume total = 100 for illustration:

Then ¼ × 100 = 25 on ground
½ × 100 = 50 in bathroom
Total not in closet = 75

So 75 items not in closet.

But since total not given, we can’t confirm.

So problem 2 is incomplete.

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✔ Final Answers:

1) 250 cookies
2) Cannot be determined (missing total number of clothes)
→ If we assume total = 100, then 75 items not in closet. But without total, no definite number.
3) 3.5 cans
4) 33.3% (or 1/3)
5) 1660 fliers

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✔ Best Possible Answers (assuming total clothes = 100 for #2):

1) 250
2) 75 *(assuming total clothes = 100)*
3) 3.5
4) 33.3%
5) 1660

But strictly speaking, #2 is unsolvable without total.

Let me know if you have more context!