wunder beta

🕵️ Breaking Down Word Problems

Word problems can look scary, but they're just stories with numbers hiding inside. Learn to read like a detective, pick out what matters, choose the right operation, and solve them step by step.

3
lessons
~15 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Ages 6–12
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. Read Like a DetectiveRead a problem carefully to find the numbers, the question, and any extra information.A word problem is a story with math inside. Read it like a detective: pick out the numbers you need, find the question you must answer, and set aside extra details that don't matter. Certain phrases, like 'gave away' or 'found more', point to the math move.
  2. Add or Take Away?Choose between addition and subtraction by picturing what happens in the story.When groups join up you add; when things leave or get used up you subtract. Clue words like 'altogether' and 'more' hint at adding, while 'left', 'gave away', and 'fewer' hint at subtracting. Always picture the story rather than only hunting for keywords.
  3. Solve and CheckSolve a word problem in order and check the answer is reasonable.Solve step by step: read it all, find the numbers and question, choose the operation, then work it out. Finish with a sense check — if Sara spends money, her answer must be smaller than she started with. Unreasonable answers reveal a mistake.

Questions this course answers

In 'Maya had 12 stickers, gave 4 away. How many are left?', which part is the question?

The question is the part that asks you to find something — 'How many are left'.

Which fact is NOT needed to solve Maya's sticker problem?

The colour of her shirt is extra info — it doesn't affect the sticker count.

Tom has 12 marbles and loses 5. To find how many are left, you...

Losing marbles means some go away, so you subtract: 12 − 5.

3 red apples and 5 green apples altogether is...

'Altogether' means join the groups: 3 + 5 = 8.

Sara had 20p and spent 5p. Which answer makes sense?

Spending makes money go down, and 20 − 5 = 15p — less than she started with.

Grounded in trusted sources

  • Khan Academy Kids
  • PBS Kids — early math
  • NRICH — University of Cambridge
  • NAEYC — early math learning

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

Related Math courses

🍎Solving Two-Step Word Problems🧮Multi-Step Addition and Subtraction Problems🧩Building and Combining Shapes⚖️Building Math Arguments⚖️Calculating the Mean🍕Calculating with Fractions and Mixed Numbers🗂️Charts and Frequency Tables🧮Choosing the Best Way to Calculate

Wunder is a personalized learn-anything platform — tell it any topic and it builds a beautiful, fact-checked course in minutes, with narration, a knowledge check, and a college-style University track.

Browse more Math courses · All topics · Home

© 2026 Wunder Learning LLC · Terms & Privacy