Read a worded problem, choose the right operations, and work through money and quantity questions step by step. It is a Foundation topic, aimed at grade 2. Free questions with answers are on this page. Worked examples show each line before you try the questions.
Worded number problems at this grade are one or two calculations hiding in a sentence. Underline the amounts and the question word: cost, change, total, each, leftover. Then write the calculation before you work it out. Four books at £3.99 is 4×3.99, which is 4×4 minus 4p.
Scaling is multiply or divide by how many times bigger. If 250 g costs £2.40, then 1 kg (four times as much) costs 4×2.40=£9.60. Sharing equally is divide.
Estimate first so a decimal-point slip stands out. £3.99×4 is about £16, so £1.596 is not a sensible till receipt.
Objectives
“Each”, “rows of” and “per” usually mean multiply.
Find the equal groups first.
A total of groups should be bigger than one group.
Key points
Pick out the numbers and the question from a wordy problem.
Decide which operation each step needs (add, subtract, multiply or divide).
Work with money in pounds or pence consistently and give answers in the right form.
Break a multi-step problem into short calculations with a note of what each one finds.
Worked examples
Example 1
A room is set out in 3 rows of 6 seats. How many seats is that?
2 marks
Multiply 3 by 6.
3 × 6 = 18.
The result is 18.
Answer: 18
Common slips
Slip: Add 3 to 6. That is a different operation, so it answers a different question.
Slip: 3 + 6 = 9. That uses addition, but this step needs multiplication.
Slip: The result is 22. That does not match the working above it.
Example 2
4 trays hold 9 cakes each, and then 5 more cakes are baked. How many cakes are there?
3 marks
4 × 9 = 36.
36 + 5 = 41.
The result is 41.
Answer: 41
Common slips
Slip: 4 + 9 = 13. That uses addition, but this step needs multiplication.
Slip: 36 − 5 = 31. That uses subtraction, but this step needs addition.
Slip: The result is 45. That does not match the working above it.
Example 3
A hall has 50 seats. 5 rows of 4 seats are already taken. How many seats are left?
2 marks
5 × 4 = 20.
50 − 20 = 30.
The result is 30.
Answer: 30
Common slips
Slip: 5 + 4 = 9. That uses addition, but this step needs multiplication.
Slip: 50 + 20 = 70. That uses addition, but this step needs subtraction.
Slip: The result is 34. That does not match the working above it.
Questions and answers
GCSE Maths calculation problems questions and answers. Try each one, then open the answer. Easy questions come first.
Question 1 Easy2 marks
A room is set out in 4 rows of 8 seats. How many seats is that?
Show answer
Answer: 32
4 × 8 = 32.
The result is 32.
M1 — 4 × 8 = 32.
A1 — Answer 32
Question 2 Easy2 marks
24 sweets are shared equally between 6 pupils. How many sweets does each pupil get?
Show answer
Answer: 4
24 ÷ 6 = 4.
The result is 4.
M1 — 24 ÷ 6 = 4.
A1 — Answer 4
Question 3 Medium2 marks
6 trays hold 8 cakes each, and then 7 more cakes are baked. How many cakes are there?
Show answer
Answer: 55
6 × 8 = 48.
48 + 7 = 55.
M1 — 6 × 8 = 48.
A1 — Answer 55
Question 4 Medium2 marks
A hall has 90 seats. 6 rows of 5 seats are already taken. How many seats are left?
Show answer
Answer: 60
6 × 5 = 30.
90 − 30 = 60.
M1 — 6 × 5 = 30.
A1 — Answer 60
Question 5 Hard2 marks
8 trays hold 12 cakes each, and then 15 more cakes are baked. How many cakes are there?
Show answer
Answer: 111
8 × 12 = 96.
96 + 15 = 111.
M1 — 8 × 12 = 96.
A1 — Answer 111
Question 6 Hard2 marks
A hall has 120 seats. 8 rows of 6 seats are already taken. How many seats are left?
Show answer
Answer: 72
8 × 6 = 48.
120 − 48 = 72.
M1 — 8 × 6 = 48.
A1 — Answer 72
Question 7 Exam-style3 marks
A cafe sells 8 cups of tea at £2 each and 5 cakes at £3 each. How much money does the cafe take altogether, in pounds?
Show answer
Answer: 31
8 × 2 = 16.
5 × 3 = 15.
16 + 15 = 31.
M1 — 8 × 2 = 16.
M1 — 5 × 3 = 15.
A1 — Answer 31
Common mistakes
Most lost marks on this topic are one slip.
Adding the number of groups to the size of one group.
Equal groups are a product.
Subtracting one row when several rows were taken.
Multiply the rows first, then subtract that total.
Adding an extra amount before the groups are worked out.
Do the groups, then add the extra.
Spot the slip
6 boxes with 8 pens in each box is
6 × 8
6 + 8
8 − 6
Show the slip
6 × 8 Equal groups are a multiplication.
Exam tips
This topic can appear on a calculator or a non-calculator paper. Show enough working for a method mark.
If the question says “show that”, the result is given. The marks are for the steps that reach it.
The method is the same on AQA-style and Edexcel-style papers.
Each labelled line of working can earn a mark even if a later step goes wrong, so never do the whole thing in your head.
Write units (p, £, kg) on every answer line so you notice if you have mixed them.
Printable worksheet
The same questions are in a PDF you can print. Answers start on a later page.