Multi-step problems

A multi-step problem asks you to do two or three operations in order. The answer to the first step becomes part of the second step.

Example: two steps

Maja bought 3 packets of crayons. Each packet has 12 crayons. She gave 8 to her brother. How many does she have left?

Step 1 — total crayons:

3 × 12 = 36 crayons.

Step 2 — after giving away:

36 − 8 = 28 crayons.

Answer: 28 crayons.

Example: another two-step

In the morning the shop sold 145 rolls. In the afternoon another 230. By the end of the day 100 had been thrown out. How many were sold and not thrown out?

Step 1 — total sold:

145 + 230 = 375.

Step 2 — kept:

375 − 100 = 275.

How to organise

Write each step on its own line. The answer to step 1 is an input to step 2.

Step 1:  3 × 12 = 36
Step 2:  36 − 8 = 28

Don't try to do it in your head. Two steps = two written lines.

Common mistake

Doing only the first step. The child computes the total but forgets that the question is "how many left?".

Always go back to the original question at the end.

Try it

• 🔢 Multi-step problems

Summary

• 2 (or 3) steps in order.
• Each step's answer is an input to the next.
• Always finish with the original question.

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