What is a Three-Step Word Problem?

S1-SA1-0756

Grade Level:

Class 5

Maths, NLP, AI, Logic

Definition

What is it?

A three-step word problem is a math problem presented in words that requires you to perform three different math operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) to find the final answer. You need to solve one part, then use that answer for the next part, and so on, until you get to the final solution.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine you have Rs. 50. You buy a packet of biscuits for Rs. 15. Then, your friend gives you Rs. 20. How much money do you have now? This is a three-step problem: first, subtract the biscuit cost; second, add the money your friend gave; third, state the final amount.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

PROBLEM: A chaiwala makes 120 cups of chai in the morning. In the afternoon, he makes half the number of cups he made in the morning. If he sells 150 cups in total, how many cups of chai are left?

STEP 1: Find out how many cups of chai were made in the afternoon.
Morning cups = 120
Afternoon cups = 120 / 2 = 60 cups
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STEP 2: Find the total number of cups of chai made.
Total cups made = Morning cups + Afternoon cups
Total cups made = 120 + 60 = 180 cups
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STEP 3: Find out how many cups are left after selling some.
Cups left = Total cups made - Cups sold
Cups left = 180 - 150 = 30 cups

ANSWER: 30 cups of chai are left.

Why It Matters

Solving three-step word problems trains your brain to think logically and break down big problems into smaller, manageable parts. This skill is super useful in fields like computer programming (Maths, NLP, AI) where you tell computers to follow multiple steps, or even for scientists who solve complex real-world challenges.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Trying to solve all three steps at once without writing down intermediate answers. | CORRECTION: Solve one step at a time, write down the answer for that step, and then use it for the next step.

MISTAKE: Using the wrong operation (e.g., adding instead of subtracting) for a particular step. | CORRECTION: Read each sentence carefully to understand what action is being described (e.g., 'gave away' means subtract, 'bought more' means add).

MISTAKE: Not identifying all three necessary steps before starting to solve. | CORRECTION: Before doing any calculation, read the entire problem and list out the three questions you need to answer to reach the final solution.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Riya had 25 colourful bangles. Her mother gave her 15 more. She then shared 10 bangles with her sister. How many bangles does Riya have now? | ANSWER: 30 bangles

QUESTION: A farmer harvested 300 kg of potatoes on Monday. On Tuesday, he harvested twice the amount he did on Monday. If he sold 500 kg of potatoes, how many kg are left? | ANSWER: 400 kg

QUESTION: A school bus has a capacity of 45 students. On the first stop, 15 students got on. On the second stop, 20 more students got on. How many more students can still get on the bus before it is full? | ANSWER: 10 students

MCQ

Quick Quiz

What is the first thing you should do when solving a three-step word problem?

Start multiplying all the numbers given

Identify the three main questions you need to answer

Guess the final answer

Only focus on the last sentence

The Correct Answer Is:

The first step is always to understand the problem and break it down. Identifying the three main questions helps you plan your steps. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they either jump to calculations or ignore parts of the problem.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you plan a family trip, you use three-step thinking. First, you calculate total travel distance. Second, you estimate fuel cost based on distance. Third, you add food and stay expenses to get a total budget. Even a delivery app like Zepto uses this logic to calculate total delivery time: pick-up time + travel time + drop-off time.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

OPERATION: A mathematical action like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division | INTERMEDIATE ANSWER: The result you get after completing one step of a multi-step problem, before finding the final answer | LOGIC: The process of reasoning or thinking clearly to solve a problem | PROBLEM-SOLVING: The skill of finding solutions to difficulties or challenges

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job understanding three-step problems! Next, you can explore word problems with more steps or those involving fractions and decimals. The skills you've learned here will be super helpful in tackling even more complex challenges!