Marble Word Problems: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division

Marbles in a Jar

Emma has 18 blue marbles and 27 green marbles. How many marbles does she have altogether?

A. 35

B. 45

C. 45

D. 55

C. 45

Step 1: Find the keyword.: "Altogether" means add.

Step 2: Write the numbers.: 18 + 27

Step 3: Add the ones.: 8 + 7 = 15

Write 5.: Carry 1.

18 +27= 45

Memory Trick: "Altogether = Add."

Finding the Total

Lucas collected 34 marbles on Monday and 29 marbles on Tuesday. How many marbles did he collect?

A. 53

B. 63

C. 73

D. 83

B. 63

Step 1: Keyword: Collected over two days means add.

Step 2: 34 + 29

Step 3: 4 + 9 = 13 Write 3. Carry 1.

3 + 2 + 1 = 6

34 +29=63

Sophia has 15 red, 22 blue, and 18 yellow marbles. How many marbles does she have?

A. 45

B. 50

C. 55

D. 60

C. 55

Step 1: Three groups together = Add

Step 2: 15 + 22 + 18

Step 3: 15 + 22 = 37

37 + 18 = 55

Giving Away Marbles

Michael has 64 marbles. He gives 18 to his friend. How many marbles remain?

A. 42

B. 46

C. 48

D. 52

B. 46

Step 1: Keyword: Gives away means subtract.

Step 2: 64 − 18

Step 3: Borrow because 4 < 8.

64 -18

Borrow 1 from the 6.

Now: 14 − 8 = 6

5 − 1 = 4

64 -18= 46

Memory Trick: Left, Remaining, Difference = Subtract

A jar contains 90 marbles. Twenty-five fall out. How many are left?

A. 60

B. 65

C. 70

D. 75

B. 65

Step 1: Keyword: Fall out means subtract.

Step 2: 90 − 25

Borrow from the 9.

10 − 5 = 5

8 − 2 = 6

90 -25= 65

Ava collected 82 marbles but donated 39.

How many marbles does she still have?

A. 33

B. 38

C. 43

D. 53

C. 43

Step 1: Keyword: Donated means subtract.

Step 2: 82 − 39

Borrow.

12 − 9 = 3

7 − 3 = 4

82 -39=43

Bags of Marbles

Each bag contains 8 marbles. If Noah has 7 bags, how many marbles does he have?

A. 48

B. 54

C. 56

D. 64

C. 56

Step 1: Keyword: Each = equal groups = multiply.

Step 2: 8 × 7

Step 3: Use multiplication facts.

8 × 7 = 56

Memory Trick: Each × Number of Groups = Multiply

A toy store sells packs with 12 marbles each. Mia buys 5 packs.

How many marbles did she buy?

A. 50

B. 60

C. 65

D. 72

B. 60

Step 1: Keyword: Each = multiply.

Step 2: 12 × 5

12 × 5= 60

There are 9 boxes, each containing 15 marbles.

How many marbles are there altogether?

A. 120

B. 130

C. 135

D. 145

C. 135

Step 1: Each = multiply.

Step 2: 15 × 9

Multiply: 9 × 5 = 45

Carry 4.

9 × 1 = 9

9 + 4 = 13

15 × 9= 135

Sharing Marbles

Olivia has 48 marbles and wants to divide them equally among 6 friends.

How many marbles does each friend receive?

A. 6

B. 8

C. 10

D. 12

B. 8

Step 1: Keyword: Shared equally = divide.

Step 2: 48 ÷ 6

Ask: 6 × ? = 48

Answer: 8

Memory Trick: Shared Equally = Divide

There are 72 marbles. Each bag holds 9 marbles.

How many bags are needed?

A. 6

B. 7

C. 8

D. 9

C. 8

Step 1: You know the total and the amount in each bag, so divide. 72 ÷ 9

Ask: 9 × ? = 72

Answer: 8

A teacher has 54 marbles and places them into 6 equal rows.

How many marbles are in each row?

A. 7

B. 8

C. 9

D. 10

C. 9

Step 1: Keyword: Equal rows = divide. 54 ÷ 6

Ask: 6 × ? = 54

Answer: 9

Sarah has 36 marbles. She buys 18 more. How many marbles does she have now?

A. 44

B. 50

C. 54

D. 64

C. 54

Step 1: Keyword: More = add. 36 + 18

36 +18=54

Ben has 75 marbles. He gives away 29.

How many marbles remain?

A. 44

B. 46

C. 48

D. 56

B. 46

Step 1: Keyword: Gives away = subtract. 75 − 29

Borrow: 15 − 9 = 6, 6 − 2 = 4

75 -29 --- 46

Each container holds 14 marbles. There are 4 containers.

How many marbles are there?

A. 46

B. 52

C. 56

D. 64

C. 56

Step 1: Keyword: Each = multiply. 14 × 4

14 × 4=56

Ninety-six marbles are divided equally into 12 boxes.

How many marbles go into each box?

A. 6

B. 8

C. 10

D. 12

B. 8

Step 1: Keyword: Divided equally = divide. 96 ÷ 12

Ask: 12 × ? = 96

8

There are 6,657 marbles in a jar. Approximately 34% are white, and the rest are black. How many black marbles are?

34% of 6,657 = 2,263 white marbles

6,657-2,263=4,394 black marbles