50 Math Problems for a Third Grader: Solutions Included

Ever wondered how to make math more fun for a third grader? We’ve got the answer! In this article, we’ll explore 50 engaging math problems tailored specifically for third graders, along with their solutions. From simple addition to tricky mixed operations, we’ll tackle them all, step by step. Join us as we unravel math mysteries and empower young minds to become confident problem solvers. Let’s turn math into a delightful adventure where every challenge conquered brings a sense of accomplishment!

Wukong Math provides various types of math problems for third graders, including math problem worksheets and detailed video solutions to math problems. There are many free resources that parents can download for your children.

Addition:

Addition problems help third graders understand how to combine numbers to find the total sum. These exercises build a foundation for more complex math operations.

1. Mary has 14 apples, and she buys 8 more. How many apples does she have now?

Analysis: Combining the two amounts gives the total number of apples Mary has.   

Solution: 14 + 8 = 22

2. There are 27 students in a class. If 15 more students join, how many students are there in total?

Analysis: Adding the new students to the existing ones gives the total number of students.   

Solution: 27 + 15 = 42

3. Timmy has 35 marbles, and he finds 11 more on the playground. How many marbles does he have in all?

Analysis: The sum of Timmy’s original and newly found marbles gives the total count.   

Solution: 35 + 11 = 46

Subtraction:

Subtraction problems teach children how to find the difference between numbers, which is essential for understanding how to decrease quantities.

4. Sarah had 48 stickers. She gave 15 to her friend. How many stickers does she have left?

Analysis: Subtracting the given stickers from the original amount shows how many Sarah has left. 

Solution: 48 – 15 = 33

5. The library has 63 books. If 28 books are borrowed, how many books remain?

Analysis: The difference between the original and borrowed books indicates the remaining number.

Solution: 63 – 28 = 35

6. Tommy had 77 toy cars. He sold 19 of them. How many toy cars does he have now?

Analysis: Subtracting the sold cars from Tommy’s collection shows the number left.   

Solution: 77 – 19 = 58

Multiplication:

Multiplication problems help students learn to find the total number of items when they are arranged in groups, an essential skill for more advanced math.

7. There are 8 boxes, and each box contains 6 apples. How many apples are there in total?

Analysis: Multiplying the number of boxes by the number of apples per box gives the total count.

Solution: 8 x 6 = 48

8. Lucy wants to buy 4 packs of pencils, with 9 pencils in each pack. How many pencils does she need?

Analysis: Multiplying the number of packs by the number of pencils in each shows the total pencils needed.

Solution: 4 x 9 = 36

9. If there are 5 shelves in a cupboard, and each shelf holds 7 books, how many books can the cupboard hold?

Analysis: The product of the number of shelves and books per shelf gives the total number of books.

Solution: 5 x 7 = 35

Division:

Division problems help children understand how to split a number into equal parts, which is important for sharing and grouping.

10. There are 45 cookies that must be distributed equally among 9 children. How many cookies will each child get?

Analysis: Dividing the total number of cookies by the number of children shows how many each child gets.    

Solution: 45 ÷ 9 = 5

11. A farmer has 56 apples. He wants to pack them into bags, with 8 apples in each bag. How many bags can he fill?

Analysis: Dividing the apples by the number of apples per bag gives the number of bags needed.

Solution: 56 ÷ 8 = 7

12. If there are 63 candies to be shared equally among 7 friends, how many candies will each friend get?

Analysis: The total number of candies divided by the number of friends shows how many each friend gets.

Solution: 63 ÷ 7 = 9

Fractions:

Fractions introduce students to the concept of parts of a whole, helping them understand how quantities can be divided and compared.

13. If a pizza is cut into 8 equal slices and 5 slices are eaten, what fraction of the pizza remains?

Analysis: Subtracting the eaten slices from the total gives the remaining fraction of the pizza.

Solution: 3/8

14. Mary has 3/4 of a chocolate bar. If she eats 1/4 of it, how much is left?

Analysis: Subtracting the eaten portion from the total shows the remaining chocolate.

Solution: 2/4 or 1/2

15. If there are 20 marbles, and 1/5 of them are blue, how many marbles are blue?

Analysis: The number of blue marbles is obtained by multiplying the total number of marbles by the fraction that are blue.

Solution: 4 marbles

Multi-step Word Problems:

Multi-step word problems require students to use more than one operation, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

16. There are 24 cupcakes. If 10 cupcakes are eaten and 6 more are added, how many cupcakes are there in total now?

Analysis: Subtracting the eaten cupcakes and then adding the new ones gives the total remaining.

Solution: (24 – 10) + 6 = 20 + 6 = 26

17. John has 35 trading cards. He gives away 15 cards and then receives 12 more. How many cards does he have now?

Analysis: Subtracting the given cards and adding the received ones shows the current total.

Solution: (35 – 15) + 12 = 20 + 12 = 32

18. There are 50 candies in a jar. If 18 candies are removed and 7 more are added, how many candies are left?

Analysis: Subtracting the removed candies and then adding the new ones gives the remaining count.

Solution: (50 – 18) + 7 = 32 + 7 = 39

Measurement:

Measurement problems teach students how to calculate length, volume, and weight, which are practical skills for everyday life.

19. A pencil is 7 inches long. How long are 5 pencils altogether?

Analysis: Multiplying the length of one pencil by the number of pencils gives the total length.

Solution: 7 x 5 = 35 inches

20. There are 12 months in a year. How many months are there in 3 years?

Analysis: Multiplying the number of months in a year by the number of years gives the total months.

Solution: 12 x 3 = 36 months

21. If a ruler is 12 inches long, how many inches long are 6 rulers?

Analysis: Multiplying the length of one ruler by the number of rulers gives the total length.

Solution: 12 x 6 = 72 inches

Money:

Money problems help students learn how to handle currency, make purchases, and calculate change, which are essential life skills.

22. Jack has 5 quarters and 3 dimes. How much money does he have in total?

Analysis: Multiplying the number of each coin by its value and then adding them gives the total amount of money.

Solution: (5 x $0.25) + (3 x $0.10) = $1.25 + $0.30 = $1.55

23. Jenny wants to buy 4 toys, each costing $8. How much does she need in total?

Analysis: Multiplying the cost of one toy by the number of toys gives the total cost.

Solution: 4 x $8 = $32

24. If a pack of pencils costs $2 and Mary has $10, how many packs can she buy?

Analysis: Dividing the total money by the cost of one pack gives the number of packs Mary can buy.

Solution: $10 ÷ $2 = 5 packs

Time:

Time problems help students understand how to read clocks, calculate elapsed time, and manage their daily schedules.

25. If John wakes up at 6:30 AM and takes 25 minutes to get ready, what time will he be ready?

Analysis: Adding the preparation time to the wake-up time gives the time he will be ready.

Solution: 6:30 AM + 25 minutes = 6:55 AM

26. A movie starts at 4:15 PM and lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes. What time does the movie end?

Analysis: Adding the movie duration to the start time gives the ending time.

Solution: 4:15 PM + 1 hour 45 minutes = 6:00 PM

27. Sarah starts reading at 7:45 PM and reads for 30 minutes. What time does she finish reading?

Analysis: Adding the reading time to the start time gives the finishing time.

Solution: 7:45 PM + 30 minutes = 8:15 PM

Geometry:

Geometry problems introduce students to shapes, sizes, and the properties of space, laying the groundwork for more advanced topics in mathematics.

28. A rectangle has a length of 8 units and a width of 5 units. What is its perimeter?

Analysis: Calculating the sum of the lengths and widths, then multiplying by 2 gives the perimeter.

Solution: 2 x (8 + 5) = 2 x 13 = 26 units

29. If a square has a side length of 6 inches, what is its area?

Analysis: Multiplying the side length by itself gives the area.

Solution: 6 x 6 = 36 square inches

30. What is the circumference of a circle with a diameter of 10 centimeters? (Use π ≈ 3.14)

Analysis: Multiplying the diameter by π gives the circumference.

Solution: π x 10 = 3.14 x 10 ≈ 31.4 centimeters

Patterns:

Pattern problems help students recognize and predict sequences, an important skill for developing logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

31. Find the next number in the sequence: 5, 10, 15, 20, …

Analysis: Adding the common difference to the last number gives the next number in the sequence.

Solution: 25 (Adding 5 to each number)

32. What comes next in the pattern: A, C, E, G, …

Analysis: Continuing the pattern of skipping one letter each time gives the next letter.

Solution: I (Skipping one letter in the alphabet)

33. Fill in the missing number in the pattern: 2, 4, 8, 16, …

Analysis: Multiplying the last number by 2 gives the next number in the sequence.

Solution: 32 (Multiplying each number by 2)

Logical Reasoning:

Logical reasoning problems help students develop critical thinking skills by analyzing situations and making reasoned conclusions.

34. If all dogs have tails, and Rover is a dog, does Rover have a tail? (Yes/No)

Analysis: Based on the premise, Rover being a dog means he must have a tail.

Solution: Yes

35. There are 7 red apples and 5 green apples. Which color of apples is greater in number?

Analysis: Comparing the quantities shows that there are more red apples than green apples.

Solution: Red apples

36. If 4 + 3 = 7, what is the missing number in 6 + ? = 12?

Analysis: Subtracting the known number from the total gives the missing number.

Solution: 6 + 6 = 12

Problem-solving:

Problem-solving exercises teach students how to approach and solve various types of mathematical challenges, enhancing their overall math skills.

37. Peter has 24 stickers. He wants to divide them equally among his 4 friends. How many stickers will each friend get?

Analysis: Dividing the total stickers by the number of friends shows how many each gets.

Solution: 24 ÷ 4 = 6

38. There are 36 students going on a field trip, and they need to be divided into equal groups for transportation. If each bus can carry 12 students, how many buses are needed?

Analysis: Dividing the total students by the bus capacity shows the number of buses needed.

Solution: 36 ÷ 12 = 3 buses

39. A box contains 48 chocolates. How many smaller boxes are needed if they are packed into smaller boxes with 6 chocolates in each?

Analysis: Dividing the total chocolates by the number per smaller box gives the number of smaller boxes needed. 

Solution: 48 ÷ 6 = 8 boxes

40. There are 25 balloons at a party. How many balloons will each table get if they are to be distributed equally among 5 tables?

Analysis: Dividing the total balloons by the number of tables shows how many each table gets.

Solution: 25 ÷ 5 = 5 balloons per table

41. Lisa has 36 crayons. She wants to share them equally among 9 friends. How many crayons will each friend get?

Analysis: Dividing the total crayons by the number of friends shows how many each friend gets.

Solution: 36 ÷ 9 = 4 crayons per friend

42. There are 60 candies to be equally divided among 12 children. How many candies will each child receive?

Analysis: Dividing the total candies by the number of children shows how many each child gets.

Solution: 60 ÷ 12 = 5 candies per child

43. If 6 students are to share 30 pencils, how many pencils will each student receive?

Analysis: Dividing the total pencils by the number of students shows how many each gets.

Solution: 30 ÷ 6 = 5 pencils per student

44. Sarah has 24 stickers. She wants to put an equal number of stickers on each notebook page. If she has 6 pages, how many stickers will she put on each page?

Analysis: Dividing the total stickers by the number of pages shows how many each page gets.

Solution: 24 ÷ 6 = 4 stickers per page

45. There are 40 apples need to be packed into baskets with 8 apples in each. How many baskets will be needed?

Analysis: Dividing the total apples by the number per basket shows how many baskets are needed.

Solution: 40 ÷ 8 = 5 baskets

46. A farmer has 48 eggs, and he wants to put them into cartons with 6 eggs in each. How many cartons will he need?

Analysis: Dividing the total eggs by the number per carton shows how many cartons are needed.

Solution: 48 ÷ 6 = 8 cartons

47. There are 35 students in a class. If they are divided into 7 groups for a project, how many groups will there be?

Analysis: Dividing the total students by the group size shows how many groups there will be.

Solution: 35 ÷ 7 = 5 groups

48. A toy store has 50 stuffed animals, and they want to display them in sets of 5 on each shelf. How many shelves will be needed?

Analysis: Dividing the total animals by the number per shelf shows how many shelves are needed.

Solution: 50 ÷ 5 = 10 shelves

49. There are 42 cookies, and they must be packed into bags with 6 cookies in each. How many bags will be needed?

Analysis: Dividing the total cookies by the number per bag shows how many bags are needed.

Solution: 42 ÷ 6 = 7 bags

50. If 28 blocks are to be equally divided among 4 children, how many blocks will each child receive?

Analysis: Dividing the total blocks by the number of children shows how many each child gets.

Solution: 28 ÷ 4 = 7 blocks per child

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FAQs about Math Problems for a Third Grader

Q1: What types of math problems should a third grader practice?

A: A third grader should practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and basic fractions.

Q2: How can I help my third grader with math problems?

A: Use visual aids, interactive apps, and daily practice to reinforce concepts and make learning fun.

Q3: How can I make math problems engaging for my third grader?

A: Incorporate games, hands-on activities, and real-world examples to make math problems more engaging for your third grader.

Conclusion:

In this article, we’ve explored 50 engaging math problems for a third grader, complete with their solutions, to help young learners build confidence and skills in math. From addition to division, these problems give a strong foundation for mathematical thinking. For parents looking for more support, WuKong Math offers excellent courses tailored to every child’s needs. Their mix of live classes, helpful resources, and global availability make them a great choice for boosting your child’s math skills. With WuKong Math, discovering the math whiz in your child is possible. Try WuKong Math today and see your child succeed!