Math word problems worksheet for elementary students.

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

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1) The sum of three consecutive numbers is eighty-four. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Let the three consecutive numbers be:
- $ x $
- $ x + 1 $
- $ x + 2 $

Sum:
$ x + (x+1) + (x+2) = 84 $
$ 3x + 3 = 84 $
$ 3x = 81 $
$ x = 27 $

✔ Answer: 27

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2) Tom sold half of his comic books and then bought six more. He now has twelve. How many did he begin with?

Let $ x $ = original number of comic books.

He sold half: $ \frac{x}{2} $ left
Then bought 6 more: $ \frac{x}{2} + 6 = 12 $

Solve:
$ \frac{x}{2} = 6 $
$ x = 12 $

✔ Answer: 12

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3) Oceanside Bike Rental Shop charges 14 dollars plus 9 dollars an hour for renting a bike. Joan paid 86 dollars to rent a bike. How many hours did she pay to have the bike checked out?

Let $ h $ = number of hours.

Cost = $ 14 + 9h = 86 $

Solve:
$ 9h = 86 - 14 = 72 $
$ h = 8 $

✔ Answer: 8 hours

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4) The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 156. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Let the numbers be:
- $ x $
- $ x + 2 $
- $ x + 4 $

Sum:
$ x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 156 $
$ 3x + 6 = 156 $
$ 3x = 150 $
$ x = 50 $

✔ Answer: 50

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5) The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is one hundred and eleven. What is the smallest of the three numbers?

Let the numbers be:
- $ x $
- $ x + 2 $
- $ x + 4 $

Sum:
$ x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 111 $
$ 3x + 6 = 111 $
$ 3x = 105 $
$ x = 35 $

✔ Answer: 35

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6) On Monday, 301 students went on a trip to the zoo. All 7 buses were filled and 7 students traveled in cars. How many students were in each bus?

Total students: 301
Students in cars: 7
So, students on buses: $ 301 - 7 = 294 $

Number of buses: 7
Students per bus: $ 294 \div 7 = 42 $

✔ Answer: 42

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7) Mike bought four new baseball trading cards to add to his collection. The next day his dog ate half of his collection. There are now only twenty-nine cards left. How many cards did Mike start with?

Let $ x $ = original number of cards.

After adding 4: $ x + 4 $
Dog ate half: $ \frac{1}{2}(x + 4) = 29 $

Solve:
$ x + 4 = 58 $
$ x = 54 $

✔ Answer: 54

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8) Sara had 207 dollars to spend on 9 books. After buying them she had 18 dollars. How much did each book cost?

Money spent: $ 207 - 18 = 189 $
Number of books: 9
Cost per book: $ 189 \div 9 = 21 $

✔ Answer: $21

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9) Benny spent half of his allowance going to the movies. He washed the family car and earned 8 dollars. What is his weekly allowance if he ended with 16 dollars?

Let $ x $ = weekly allowance.

Spent half: $ \frac{x}{2} $ left
Then earned $8 → total: $ \frac{x}{2} + 8 = 16 $

Solve:
$ \frac{x}{2} = 8 $
$ x = 16 $

✔ Answer: $16

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10) Sandy bought a soft drink for two dollars and five candy bars. She spent a total of seventeen dollars. How much did each candy bar cost?

Let $ c $ = cost of one candy bar.

Soft drink: $2
Candy bars: $5c
Total: $ 2 + 5c = 17 $

Solve:
$ 5c = 15 $
$ c = 3 $

✔ Answer: $3

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✔ Final Answers:

1) 27
2) 12
3) 8 hours
4) 50
5) 35
6) 42
7) 54
8) $21
9) $16
10) $3

Let me know if you'd like these explained in simpler terms or formatted for printing!