Short story problems and strategies for solving them.

1. 3rd
Grade Indiana Standards 3.6.1, 3.6.2, 3.6.3, 3.6.4

2. heart
Jimmy bought Jamie a
box of chocolate hearts
for Valentine’s Day.
There were 9 pieces in
the box. They each ate
one piece and then they
shared one piece. How
many pieces are left?
(shared)(Jimmy) (Jamie)
9 – (1 + 1 + 1) = ?
9 – 3 = 6
final answer: 6 pieces

3. pigs
4
4
4
4
4
20
8
8
final answer:
20 legs

4. dominoes
How many more spots are
on the black domino than
on the white one?
10 - 7 = 3
final answer: 3 spots

5. tomatoes
6
6
6
6
12
12
24
final answer:
24 tomatoes

6. shirts
1 5
1 2
1 1
1 0
8
final answer: 48
4
15
11 10
12

7. oranges
final answer: 33 oranges
4 8
1 5
33

8. marbles
final answer:
8 more red marbles
1 4
5
8
The number of green marbles is not needed.

9. motorcycles
final answer: 20 wheels
Think… Each bike has
one front wheel and
one back wheel.
1 0 front wheels
1 0 back wheels
2 0

10. octo
final answer: 2 more arms
This creature has 8
limbs. Four are arms and
4 are legs. How many
more arms than a person
does this creature have?
4 arms
Does the
question even
ask about legs?
4 legs
2
4
2

11. ants
final answer: 18 antennas
3 + 6 = 9 ants
Think… Each ant has
one antenna on its left
and one on its right.
9 left antennas
9 right antennas
1 8

12. jugglers
final answer: 15 balls
These performers are
practicing their juggling
act for a talent show.
They using 10 balls and
have a box of 25 extra
balls. How many more
balls are in the box than
are in the air?
2 5
1 0
1 5

13. clown
final answer: 29 spots
1 5 spots in back
1 4 spots in front
2 9

14. End