Story problems with two steps
In 3rd grade, children learn to solve two-step word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, and to write an equation with a letter standing for the unknown.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 3rd grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
A bakery made 500 cookies. They sold 235 on Saturday and 190 on Sunday. How many are left?
- 75
- 85
- 175
Why this matters
Real life rarely hands your child a one-step problem, and this is where they learn to plan before calculating. Using a letter for the unknown, such as s for stickers left, is a gentle early start on algebra. Estimating first helps your child notice when an answer is far off. These habits carry into the longer problems of 4th and 5th grade and into everyday tasks like budgeting pocket money.
Where kids can get stuck
- Stopping after the first step, such as reporting the 18 stickers bought instead of the 13 left after giving some away.
- Doing the right operations in the wrong order, which tells a different story than the problem does.
- Giving an answer that makes no sense in the story, like more stickers left than were bought, without checking.
How you can help
- Make up two-step problems at the grocery store, such as "We need 4 bags of 5 apples and already have 3 at home. How many will we have?"
- Ask your child to tell you their plan before they solve a problem you pose, saying what they will do first and what they will do next.
- Before solving a problem at dinner, ask your child to guess whether the answer will be closer to 10 or 50, then compare the guess to the real answer.
For more, Bobby's Math Club has free practice at your child’s level.
Questions parents ask
Why is my child using letters in math problems in 3rd grade?
A letter is a placeholder for the number your child is trying to find, much like a blank box. Writing 4 x 5 + 3 = n helps your child show the whole plan for a problem in one line. It is an early, gentle step toward algebra, and using it with small numbers now makes letters feel ordinary later.
My child solves the first step and then stops. How can I help?
Ask your child to reread the question at the end of the problem and say in their own words what it is asking. Then ask whether the number they found answers that question. Drawing a quick picture of each step can also help your child see that the story keeps going after the first calculation.
Why does my child have to estimate before solving?
Estimating gives your child a rough idea of what the answer should be, so they can spot a mistake. If they expect about 20 and get 200, they know to look again. In 3rd grade, estimating often means rounding to the nearest ten. It is a habit that saves many errors in later grades, when the numbers get much bigger.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 3rd grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Unlimited free practice
- Questions matched to your child’s level, a few minutes a day
- Level-ups, badges, and a cheer for every win
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
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Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 3.OA.D.8: “Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 3.OA.8)