Age 10 guide to multi-step problems
Age-appropriate activities, explanations and practice ideas for multi-step problems.
Quick answer
Multi-step problems are maths questions that need more than one calculation to solve. You need to read carefully, work out what operations to use, and solve each part step by step.
Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to solve multi-step problems by reading carefully, identifying what you need to do, and working through each step one at a time.
- You can identify the different steps in a problem
- You can choose the right maths operations for each step
- You can solve problems involving more than one calculation
- You can check your answers make sense
Why this matters
Multi-step problems help you use maths in real life. When you go shopping, plan a party, or even play a game, you often need to do more than one maths calculation. Learning to solve these problems helps you become a better problem solver. It also prepares you for harder maths in the future.
How it works
Solving multi-step problems is like following a recipe. You need to:
- Read the whole problem carefully to understand what is being asked
- Identify what you need to find out - what is the final answer?
- Break it down into steps - what calculations do you need to do?
- Do each step one at a time - solve the first part, then the second part
- Check your answer - does it make sense?
Examples you can see
Let's look at a problem that needs two steps:
Example 1: Sarah buys 3 packs of pencils. Each pack has 8 pencils. She gives 5 pencils to her friend. How many pencils does Sarah have left?
| Step | What to do | Calculation | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st step | Find total pencils | 3 × 8 | 24 pencils |
| 2nd step | Subtract pencils given away | 24 − 5 | 19 pencils |
Example 2: A football team scores 3 goals in the first half and 2 goals in the second half. Each goal is worth 2 points. How many points does the team score in total?
| Step | What to do | Calculation | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st step | Find total goals | 3 + 2 | 5 goals |
| 2nd step | Find total points | 5 × 2 | 10 points |
Try it as a mini adventure
The Great Treasure Hunt
You are going on a treasure hunt in your garden. You need to solve clues to find the treasure!
1st clue: You find 4 boxes. Each box has 6 coins. How many coins do you find?
2nd clue: You give 7 coins to your friend. How many coins do you have left?
3rd clue: You find 3 more boxes, each with 5 coins. How many coins do you have now?
4th clue: You need to divide all your coins equally between 3 friends. How many coins does each friend get?
Can you solve the treasure hunt? Work through each clue one at a time!
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Jumping straight to the answer without reading the whole problem.
Why it happens: You're excited to start solving.
Fix: Read the whole problem first, then think about what you need to do. - Mistake: Forgetting to check if your answer makes sense.
Why it happens: You're in a hurry.
Fix: Ask yourself, "Does this answer seem right?" - Mistake: Using the wrong operation for a step.
Why it happens: You're not paying attention to keywords like "more", "less", "times", or "shared".
Fix: Look for keywords and think about what the problem is asking. - Mistake: Solving the steps in the wrong order.
Why it happens: You're not writing down your steps clearly.
Fix: Write down each step as you go. This helps you stay organised.
Parent and carer guide
Helping your child with multi-step problems is about guiding them to think carefully, not rushing to give answers. Here's how:
- Ask questions: "What do you need to find out?" "What operations might you need?"
- Encourage them to read the problem twice - first to get the general idea, then to notice details.
- Help them write down each step - this makes it easier to see what they're doing.
- Check their answer makes sense - "Does this seem like the right number?"
- Don't solve it for them - guide them to find their own solution.
- Be patient - it's normal to make mistakes while learning.
- Use real-life examples - cooking, shopping, or games can help them practice.
- Don't worry if they get stuck - take a break, then come back to it together.
- Encourage them to explain their thinking - this helps them understand their own work.
- Remember: It's okay to make mistakes - they help you learn!
Practice questions
- Tom has 12 stickers. He gets 5 more stickers from his sister. Then he gives 3 stickers to his brother. How many stickers does Tom have now?
- A bakery makes 4 batches of cookies. Each batch has 15 cookies. They sell 30 cookies. How many cookies are left?
- Emma runs 3 laps of a 200-metre track. Then she walks 50 metres. How far does she go in total?
- There are 24 children in a class. They are divided into 4 groups. Each group gets 6 books. How many books are there in total?
- A garden has 5 rows of tomato plants. Each row has 8 plants. 3 plants die. How many plants are left?
Answers:
- 14 stickers
- 30 cookies
- 650 metres
- 24 books
- 37 plants
FAQ
What is a multi-step problem?
A multi-step problem is a maths question that needs more than one calculation to solve. You must do several steps in order to find the final answer.
How can I tell what steps to do?
Read the problem carefully and look for keywords like "more", "less", "times", "shared", "total", or "left". These clues tell you what operation to use for each part.
Why do I need to check my answer?
Checking your answer helps you make sure it makes sense. If you get a really big or small number, it might mean you made a mistake. Checking helps you catch errors.
How can I practice more multi-step problems?
You can practice by doing word problems in your maths book, solving puzzles, or playing games that involve maths. You can also make up your own problems using things you do every day.
What if I don't understand the problem?
If you don't understand, try reading it again. You can also draw a picture or write down what you know. Ask a parent, teacher, or friend to help you understand.