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Grade 3 · Maths · Lessons
Two steps, a letter, and is it sensible
1️⃣step 12️⃣step 2🔤a letter🧐sensible?
Two steps.
The big ideaDo one step, then the next. A letter holds the answer's place.

How it works

Do one step, then the next.

A letter, like n, can hold the answer's place.

Check that your answer is sensible: does it fit the story?

Do step 1Use that answerDo step 2Is it sensible?
Two steps.

Example 1: Two adds

  1. Leo has 26 cards. He gets 15 more. Then he gets 12 more. How many cards does Leo have now?
  2. Leo has 26 cards and gets 15 more.
  3. Then he gets 12 more.
  4. So the answer is 53.

Example 2: Take away, then share

  1. Mia has 64 stickers. She gives away 9. She shares the rest equally between 5 friends. How many stickers does each friend get?
  2. Mia gives away 9 of her 64.
  3. Then she shares the rest among 5.
  4. So the answer is 11.

Example 3: Find the start

  1. Omar had some beads. He got 28 more, then gave away 54. Now he has 21. How many beads did Omar have at first?
  2. Work backwards from the end.
  3. Undo each step.
  4. So the answer is 47.

Words to know

step
One part of a problem.
sensible
Makes sense for the story.

Watch out

Try it

  1. Omar has 79 beads. He gives away 24, then gets 52 more. Omar says he now has 3. Is that sensible?
  2. Omar has 91 beads. He gives away 34. Then he gives away 21. Which sentence tells the story?
  3. Omar has 97 beads. He gives away 37, then gives away 36. Omar says he now has 60. Is that sensible?
Answers: 1. No · 2. 91 − 34 − 21 = n · 3. No
For grown-upsAsk 'does that answer make sense?' after every word problem.
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