How to Solve Math Word Problems Step by Step
A simple framework that works for almost any word problem you'll encounter.
"I can do the math, but word problems are impossible!" Sound familiar? You're not alone. Word problems trip up students because they require translating English into math. Here's a system that makes this translation reliable.
The 4-Step Method: RUGS ๐งน
Remember this acronym: R-U-G-S. It stands for:
- Read โ Read the entire problem carefully, twice
- Underline โ Underline important numbers and keywords
- Guess the operation โ Which operation does the problem need?
- Solve โ Write the equation and calculate
Let's break down each step.
Step 1: Read It Twice ๐
The first read is for the story. The second read is for the math. Many mistakes happen because students start calculating after half-reading.
Ask: "What is this problem actually asking me to find?"
Step 2: Underline the Important Parts โ๏ธ
On your second read, underline:
- All numbers in the problem
- Keywords that hint at operations (see table below)
- The question being asked
Step 3: Guess the Operation ๐
Keywords tell you which operation to use:
| Operation | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Addition (+) | total, sum, altogether, combined, more than, increased by |
| Subtraction (โ) | difference, less than, decreased, remaining, left over, fewer |
| Multiplication (ร) | times, product, each, every, groups of, twice, double |
| Division (รท) | split, shared equally, per, divided, quotient, half of |
Step 4: Solve and Check โ
Write out your equation, solve it, then ask: "Does this answer make sense?"
If a problem asks "how many apples are left" and your answer is 500, but they started with 12 apples... something went wrong.
Example: Putting It Together ๐
"Emma has 24 stickers. She gives 6 stickers to each of her friends. How many friends received stickers?"
Step 1: Read twice. Got it.
Step 2: Underline: 24 stickers, 6 stickers to each, how many friends
Step 3: "Each" suggests equal groups. We're splitting 24 into groups of 6. That's division.
Step 4: 24 รท 6 = 4 friends. Does it make sense? Yesโ4 friends ร 6 stickers = 24 stickers โ
๐ Practice Makes Perfect
Build word problem skills with our practice tools:
Pro Tip: Draw It Out
For tricky problems, a quick sketch helps. Draw the stickers, the friends, the objects. Many students are visual learnersโseeing the problem makes it click.
Written by the PanMaths Team โข Your Math Learning Companion