Multi-Step Word Problems: Making Sense of the Problem

The local animal shelter has an aim to collect 1,500 total cans of food in their fall fundraising campaign. So far, they have collected 327 cans of dog food and 419 cans of cat food. How many cans do they still need to collect to meet their goal?
Which set of equations below could be used to solve this problem?

• 1,500 + 419 + 327 
• 419 + 327 
  then
  1,500 - answer above 
• 419 - 327 
  then
  1,500 - answer above 
• 419 + 327
  then
  1,500 + answer above

The local animal shelter has an aim to collect 1,500 total cans of food in their fall fundraising campaign. So far, they have collected 327 cans of dog food and 419 cans of cat food. How many cans do they still need to collect to meet their goal?

• 746
• 2,246
• 1,408
• 754

At an amusement park, Jason wants to ride a rollercoaster that costs 26 tickets, a bumper car that costs 15 tickets, and a merry-go-round that costs 33 tickets. Jason had 16 tickets, but lost 8 of them on a ride. How many more tickets does he need?
Which set of equations below could be used to solve this problem?

• 26 + 15 + 33 = Wants
  16 - 8 = Has
  then
  Wants - Has = Still Needs
• 26 + 15 + 33 = Has
  16 - 8 = Wants
  then
  Wants - Has = Still Needs
• 26 + 15 + 33 + 8 = Wants
  then
  Wants - 16 = Still Needs
• 26 + 15 + 33 = Wants
  16 + 8 = Has
  then
  Wants + Has = Still Needs

At an amusement park, Jason wants to ride a rollercoaster that costs 26 tickets, a bumper car that costs 15 tickets, and a merry-go-round that costs 33 tickets. Jason had 16 tickets, but lost 8 of them on a ride. How many more tickets does he need?

• 74 tickets
• 58 tickets
• 50 tickets
• 66 tickets

Maddie was given $20 by her grandma for her birthday. Her uncle gave her another $30. She earned $25 mowing her neighbor's lawn. After spending $18 on some new shoes and $10 on a ticket to the movies, how much did Maddie have left?
Which set of equations below could be used to solve this problem?

• 20 + 30 + 25 = $ to start
  18 +10 = $ spent
  then
  $ spent - $ to start
• 20 + 30 = $ to start
  25 + 18 +10 = $ spent
  then 
  $ to start - $ spent
• 20 + 30 + 25 = $ to start
  18 +10 = $ spent
  then
  $ to start - $ spent
• 20 + 30 + 25 = $ spent
  18 +10 = $ to start
  then
  $ to start + $ spent

Maddie was given $20 by her grandma for her birthday. Her uncle gave her another $30. She earned $25 mowing her neighbor's lawn. After spending $18 on some new shoes and $10 on a ticket to the movies, how much did Maddie have left?

• $47
• $3
• $53
• $103

Tristan read 28 pages on Saturday and 30 pages on Sunday. Ashley read 11 pages on Friday and 34 pages on Sunday. How many more pages did Tristan read than Ashley over the weekend?
Which set of equations below could be used to solve this problem?

• 28 + 30 = Ashley
  11 + 34 = Tristan
  then
  Tristan - Ashley
• 28 + 30 = Tristan
  11 + 34 = Ashley
  then
  Tristan - Ashley
• 28 + 30 = Tristan
  11 + 34 = Ashley
  then
  Tristan + Ashley
• 28 + 30 = Tristan
  11 + 34 = Ashley
  then
  Ashley - Tristan

Tristan read 28 pages on Saturday and 30 pages on Sunday. Ashley read 11 pages on Friday and 34 pages on Sunday. How many more pages than Ashley did Tristan read over the weekend?

• 103 pages
• 23 pages
• 13 pages
• 113 pages

Abby spent $5 on her ticket to the school dance, and another $1 for the dress down day. At the dance she bought a bag of cookies for $1 and a slice of pizza for $2. If she started with $20, how much did she have left after the dance?
Which set of equations below could be used to solve this problem?

• 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = $ spent
  then 
  20 - $ spent
• 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = $ left
• 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = $ spent
  then 
  20 + $ spent
• 5 + 1 = $ spent
  then 
  20 - $ spent

Abby spent $5 on her ticket to the school dance, and another $1 for the dress down day. At the dance she bought a bag of cookies for $1 and a slice of pizza for $2. If she started with $20, how much did she have left after the dance?

• $29
• $9
• $11
• $14