Definition
Word problem
A word problem describes a mathematical situation in words and asks you to work something out.
What it means
The words tell you what is happening, but they do not always tell you which operation to use. Notice what amounts are known, what is changing or being compared, and what the question asks. A drawing, bar model, table, or equation can turn the situation into maths you can solve. Then check that the answer makes sense in the story.
Remember it
Read for the relationship, not for a keyword: story → model → calculation → check.
Example
A box has 6 rows of 4 crayons. Five crayons are used. There were 6 × 4 = 24 crayons, so 24 − 5 = 19 crayons remain. The two calculations match the two events in the story.
Watch for
A list of calculations with no described situation is not a word problem. A word problem can be short and does not need a long story.
Common mix-up
Words such as “more” or “left” do not choose an operation by themselves; the relationship in the whole situation does.
Exact meaning
A word problem presents a mathematical situation mainly in words and asks the solver to identify quantities, relationships, and an unknown, then represent and solve the situation mathematically.