Problem Solving
Maths vocabulary in word problems
Identify language that signals comparison, total, difference, groups or sharing.
Quick answer
Maths vocabulary in word problems helps you understand what maths operation to use – like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division – by recognising key words that signal the type of problem you need to solve.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to identify key words in word problems that tell you what maths operation to use – such as total, difference, groups, or sharing – so you can solve the problem correctly. Success signs:- You can spot words like "altogether", "more than", "shared equally", or "how many in each" in a word problem.
- You can match these words to the right maths operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division).
- You can solve simple word problems by using the right maths operation based on the words you find.
- You can explain why you chose a particular operation when solving a word problem.
Why this matters
Understanding maths vocabulary in word problems is like having a secret code that helps you figure out what to do when you see a maths question in a story. Without knowing which words mean "add", "take away", "share", or "group", it can be hard to solve the problem correctly. This skill helps you in school, in games, and in real life – like when you’re splitting your snacks with friends or working out how much money you need for a toy.How it works
When you read a word problem, look for words that give you clues about what maths to do:- Look for words that show total – these often mean you need to add.
- Look for words that show difference – these often mean you need to subtract.
- Look for words that show groups or sharing – these often mean you need to multiply or divide.
- Read the whole sentence carefully to understand what is being asked.
Examples you can see
Let’s look at some examples to see how these words work. Example 1 – Total (Addition)- Problem: "I have 3 apples and my friend gives me 4 more apples. How many apples do I have altogether?"
- Key words: "have", "more", "altogether"
- Operation: Add 3 + 4 = 7
- Problem: "There were 10 birds on the tree. 3 flew away. How many birds are left?"
- Key words: "were", "flew away", "left"
- Operation: Subtract 10 - 3 = 7
- Problem: "There are 5 boxes. Each box has 4 toys. How many toys are there in total?"
- Key words: "boxes", "each", "total"
- Operation: Multiply 5 × 4 = 20
- Problem: "There are 12 cookies. They are shared equally among 3 friends. How many cookies does each friend get?"
- Key words: "shared equally", "among", "how many each"
- Operation: Divide 12 ÷ 3 = 4
Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Treasure Hunt You are on a treasure hunt and need to solve clues to find the treasure. Each clue has a word problem. You must read the clue, find the key words, and decide what maths to do. Clue 1: "There are 4 treasure chests. Each chest has 6 gold coins. How many gold coins are there in total?" Clue 2: "I had 15 coins. I gave 5 to my friend. How many coins do I have left?" Clue 3: "There are 20 sweets. They are shared equally among 4 children. How many sweets does each child get?" Clue 4: "I have 3 bags. Each bag has 8 marbles. How many marbles are there altogether?" What to do:- Read each clue carefully.
- Find the key words.
- Decide which maths operation to use.
- Solve the problem.
- 4 × 6 = 24 coins
- 15 - 5 = 10 coins
- 20 ÷ 4 = 5 sweets
- 3 × 8 = 24 marbles
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Using subtraction when you should use addition because the problem says "more than".
Why it happens: The word "more" can trick you into thinking it's about taking away, not adding.
Fix: Look for words like "altogether", "total", or "in all" – these usually mean add. - Mistake: Thinking "shared equally" means multiply instead of divide.
Why it happens: The idea of sharing can be confusing if you don’t think about it carefully.
Fix: Remember that sharing means splitting – that’s division! - Mistake: Not reading the whole problem before solving.
Why it happens: Sometimes you rush to find the numbers and forget what the question is asking.
Fix: Read the whole sentence and ask yourself, "What am I trying to find?"
Parent and carer guide
As a parent or carer, you can help your child understand maths vocabulary in word problems by:- Reading word problems together and asking questions like, "What do we need to find out?"
- Pointing out key words like "altogether", "left", "shared", "each", and "difference".
- Encouraging your child to draw pictures or use objects to help solve the problem.
- Practising with simple problems at home, like "I have 2 apples and you give me 3 more. How many do we have?"
- Not worrying if they make mistakes – it's part of learning!
Practice questions
- There are 6 boxes. Each box has 3 pencils. How many pencils are there in total?
Answer: 6 × 3 = 18 pencils - There are 15 balloons. 7 pop. How many are left?
Answer: 15 - 7 = 8 balloons - There are 24 cookies. They are shared equally among 6 children. How many cookies does each child get?
Answer: 24 ÷ 6 = 4 cookies - There are 5 groups of 4 stars. How many stars are there altogether?
Answer: 5 × 4 = 20 stars - There were 12 birds. 5 flew away. How many birds are left?
Answer: 12 - 5 = 7 birds
FAQ
What are the most common words that mean addition?
Words like "altogether", "total", "sum", "more than", and "in all" usually mean you need to add.
What are the most common words that mean subtraction?
Words like "left", "fewer", "difference", "take away", and "less than" usually mean you need to subtract.
What are the most common words that mean multiplication?
Words like "groups of", "each", "times", and "multiplied by" usually mean you need to multiply.
What are the most common words that mean division?
Words like "shared equally", "divided by", "how many each", and "per" usually mean you need to divide.
How can I help my child at home?
You can read word problems together, point out key words, and encourage your child to draw or use objects to solve them.