Grade: Grade 1 Subject: Mathematics Unit: Place Value to 100 Lesson: 4 of 6 SAT: Algebra ACT: Math

Word Problems: Place Value to 100

Learn

Word problems help us use place value in real life! When we read a word problem, we need to:

  1. Read carefully - What is the problem asking?
  2. Find the numbers - What numbers are in the problem?
  3. Think about tens and ones - How can place value help?
  4. Solve and check - Does my answer make sense?

Key Words to Look For:

  • "How many tens?" - Find the tens digit
  • "How many ones?" - Find the ones digit
  • "10 more" or "10 less" - Add or subtract a ten
  • "What number has...?" - Build a number from tens and ones

Worked Examples

Example 1

Maria has 47 stickers. How many tens and ones does she have?

Step 1: Find the number: 47

Step 2: The tens digit is 4, so there are 4 tens (that's 40)

Step 3: The ones digit is 7, so there are 7 ones

Answer: Maria has 4 tens and 7 ones

Example 2

Jake collected 56 leaves. Then he found 10 more. How many leaves does he have now?

Step 1: Start with 56 (5 tens and 6 ones)

Step 2: Add 10 more means add 1 more ten

Step 3: 5 tens + 1 ten = 6 tens, ones stay the same (6)

Answer: Jake has 66 leaves

Example 3

A number has 8 tens and 3 ones. What is the number?

Step 1: 8 tens = 80

Step 2: 3 ones = 3

Step 3: Put them together: 80 + 3 = 83

Answer: The number is 83

Practice Problems

Solve each word problem. Show your thinking!

Problem 1

Emma has 35 crayons. How many tens does she have? How many ones?

Tens: _____ Ones: _____

Problem 2

Ben counted 72 steps to school. How many tens is that? How many ones?

Tens: _____ Ones: _____

Problem 3

Ava has 5 packs of 10 pencils and 4 loose pencils. How many pencils does she have in all?

Answer: _____ pencils

Problem 4

There are 64 books on the shelf. Mom adds 10 more books. How many books are there now?

Answer: _____ books

Problem 5

Carlos had 83 marbles. He gave away 10 marbles. How many marbles does he have left?

Answer: _____ marbles

Problem 6

A number has 6 tens and 9 ones. What is the number?

Answer: _____

Problem 7

Mia has 40 red beads and 8 blue beads. How many beads does she have altogether?

Answer: _____ beads

Problem 8

There are 91 students in first grade. How many groups of 10 can they make? How many students will be left over?

Groups of 10: _____ Left over: _____

Problem 9

I am a number between 50 and 60. I have 7 ones. What number am I?

Answer: _____

Problem 10

Lily counted 58 birds in the morning. In the afternoon, she counted 10 more birds. Then 10 flew away. How many birds did she count in all?

Answer: _____ birds

Problem 11

Sam has 3 boxes with 10 toys each and 2 extra toys. His sister gives him 10 more toys. How many toys does Sam have now?

Answer: _____ toys

Problem 12

Which is greater: a number with 7 tens or a number with 6 tens and 9 ones? Explain your thinking.

Answer: _____

Because: ________________________________________________

Answer Key

Click to reveal answers

Problem 1: 3 tens, 5 ones

Problem 2: 7 tens, 2 ones

Problem 3: 54 pencils (5 tens + 4 ones)

Problem 4: 74 books (64 + 10)

Problem 5: 73 marbles (83 - 10)

Problem 6: 69

Problem 7: 48 beads (40 + 8)

Problem 8: 9 groups of 10, 1 left over

Problem 9: 57 (5 tens and 7 ones)

Problem 10: 58 birds (58 + 10 - 10 = 58)

Problem 11: 42 toys (3 tens + 2 ones + 10 = 32 + 10 = 42)

Problem 12: 7 tens (70) is greater than 6 tens and 9 ones (69) because 70 > 69

Next Steps

  • Practice finding tens and ones in numbers you see around you
  • Try making up your own word problems for a friend
  • Move on to Common Mistakes to avoid errors