Grade 6 Math Word Problems: Tips, Tricks, and Answers - Free Printable

Sure! Let’s solve each problem step by step, using estimation to find the best approximate answer — as the worksheet asks.

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Problem 1:

> Mr. James sold 422 bags of apple from his apple farm. There were 56 apples in each bag. Estimate how many apples he sold. Choose the better estimate.
> Options: 24 000 or 20 000

#### Step-by-step:
We need to estimate:
422 × 56

To estimate, we round each number to make multiplication easier.

- Round 422 → 400 (since it’s closer to 400 than 500)
- Round 56 → 60 (since it’s closer to 60 than 50)

Now multiply:
400 × 60 = 24 000

✔ So, 24 000 is the better estimate.

*(Note: The actual product is 422 × 56 = 23,632 — very close to 24,000!)*

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Problem 2:

> Larry works in a chocolate company. Yesterday, the company distributed a total of 896 250 kinds of chocolate to stores. 296 200 of those chocolates were white-chocolate. What estimate was the other kinds of chocolate? Choose the better estimate.
> Options: 120 000 or 600 000

#### Step-by-step:
We need to estimate:
Total chocolates – White chocolates = Other kinds

That is:
896 250 – 296 200

Let’s round both numbers:

- Round 896 250 → 900 000 (nearest hundred thousand)
- Round 296 200 → 300 000 (nearest hundred thousand)

Now subtract:
900 000 – 300 000 = 600 000

✔ So, 600 000 is the better estimate.

*(Actual difference: 896,250 – 296,200 = 600,050 — extremely close to 600,000!)*

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Problem 3:

> Belta works in a warehouse. Last week, she recorded a total of 724 boxes of detergent. This week, 2 579 boxes of detergent were brought to the warehouse. About how many boxes of detergent are in the warehouse now in all? Choose the better estimate.
> Options: 2 700 or 3 700

#### Step-by-step:
We need to estimate:
724 + 2 579

Round each number:

- Round 724 → 700 (nearest hundred)
- Round 2 579 → 2 600 (nearest hundred)

Add them:
700 + 2 600 = 3 300

Wait — neither option is 3,300. But let’s check which option is closer to 3,300.

- 2 700 is 600 away from 3,300
- 3 700 is 400 away from 3,300

So 3 700 is closer.

But let’s double-check our rounding — maybe we can round differently for a better match.

Alternative rounding:

- Round 724 → 700
- Round 2 579 → 2 500 (if we round down)

Then: 700 + 2 500 = 3 200 → still closer to 3 700 than 2,700.

Or even:

- Round 724 → 720
- Round 2 579 → 2 580

→ 720 + 2580 = 3 300

Still, between 2,700 and 3,700, 3,700 is the better choice.

✔ So, 3 700 is the better estimate.

*(Actual sum: 724 + 2,579 = 3,303 — so yes, 3,700 is closer than 2,700.)*

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. 24 000
2. 600 000
3. 3 700

These are the best estimates based on rounding and simple mental math — exactly what the worksheet is teaching!