Solve Multi-Step Problems i-Ready Quiz

Complete i-Ready style quiz with exercises on solving multi-step problems: word problems, equations, and step-by-step solutions.

Quiz Problems 1 to 3
1 Multi-Step Word Problem
Question 1
Sarah bought 3 packs of pencils. Each pack has 12 pencils. She gave 8 pencils to her friend and kept the rest. How many pencils did Sarah keep?
Definition:

Multi-step problem: A problem requiring multiple operations to solve (multiplication, then subtraction)

Solution method:
  1. Calculate total pencils: 3 packs × 12 pencils per pack
  2. Subtract pencils given away: Total - 8
  3. State the answer in context
Step 1
3 × 12
Step 2
- 8
Result
28
Step 1: Calculate total pencils

3 packs × 12 pencils per pack = 36 pencils

Step 2: Subtract pencils given away

36 - 8 = 28 pencils

Step 3: Interpret result

Sarah kept 28 pencils

Sarah kept 28 pencils
Final answer:

Sarah kept 28 pencils.

Applied rules:

• Order of operations: Multiplication before subtraction

• Context: Answer must relate back to the problem situation

• Verification: Check: 28 + 8 = 36, 36 ÷ 12 = 3 ✓

2 Multi-Step Shopping Problem
Question 2
A store had 150 notebooks. They sold 25 notebooks on Monday. On Tuesday, they sold 3 times as many notebooks as they sold on Monday. How many notebooks were left after Tuesday?
Definition:

Multi-step problem: A problem involving multiple operations and comparisons

Start
150
Mon Sales
- 25
Tue Sales
- 75
Result
50
Step 1: Identify Monday sales

Monday: 25 notebooks

Step 2: Calculate Tuesday sales

Tuesday: 3 × 25 = 75 notebooks

Step 3: Calculate total sales

Total: 25 + 75 = 100 notebooks

Step 4: Calculate remaining notebooks

Remaining: 150 - 100 = 50 notebooks

50 notebooks left after Tuesday
Final answer:

There were 50 notebooks left after Tuesday.

Applied rules:

• Multiplicative comparison: Calculate Tuesday sales first

• Subtraction: Subtract total sales from beginning inventory

• Verification: Check: 50 + 25 + 75 = 150 ✓

3 Multi-Step Fish Problem
Question 3
A pet store had 8 fish tanks. Each tank had 15 fish. The store owner moved 4 fish from each tank to a new tank. How many fish remained in the original tanks?
Definition:

Multi-step problem: A problem involving multiple operations across groups

Total fish
8 × 15
Moved fish
8 × 4
Result
88
Step 1: Calculate total fish initially

8 tanks × 15 fish per tank = 120 fish

Step 2: Calculate fish moved

8 tanks × 4 fish per tank = 32 fish moved

Step 3: Calculate remaining fish

120 - 32 = 88 fish

Step 4: Interpret result

88 fish remained in the original tanks

88 fish remained in original tanks
Final answer:

There were 88 fish remaining in the original tanks.

Applied rules:

• Group operations: Apply operations to each group separately

• Subtraction: Subtract moved fish from total

• Verification: Check: 88 + 32 = 120, 120 ÷ 8 = 15 ✓

Multi-Step Problem Strategies
Problem Solving Steps 🧠
Step 1: Read Carefully
Understand what the problem is asking and identify key information.
Step 2: Plan Your Approach
Decide what operations to perform and in what order.
Step 3: Solve Step-by-Step
Work through each step carefully, keeping track of your work.
Step 4: Check Your Answer
Verify your answer makes sense in the context of the problem.
i-Ready Problem Types 📊
Type 1: Sequence Problems
Problems that require following a sequence of operations (e.g., multiply then subtract).
Type 2: Comparison Problems
Problems that involve comparing quantities using multiple operations.
Type 3: Group Problems
Problems that involve operations across multiple groups or sets.
Visual Problem Solving 📐
1
Read
→
2
Plan
→
3
Solve
→
4
Check
3 × 12
Multiply
→
36 - 8
Subtract
→
28
Answer
Advanced Quiz Problems 4 to 6
4 Multi-Step Fruit Problem
Question 4
A farmer harvested 240 apples. He packed 8 boxes with 15 apples each. Then he divided the remaining apples equally among 6 baskets. How many apples were in each basket?
Definition:

Multi-step problem: A problem requiring multiple operations including division

Solution method:
  1. Calculate apples packed in boxes: 8 × 15
  2. Calculate remaining apples: 240 - (8 × 15)
  3. Divide remaining apples among baskets: Remaining ÷ 6
  4. State the answer in context
Total
240
Boxes
- 120
Baskets
÷ 6
Result
20
Step 1: Calculate apples in boxes

8 boxes × 15 apples each = 120 apples

Step 2: Calculate remaining apples

240 - 120 = 120 apples remaining

Step 3: Divide among baskets

120 ÷ 6 baskets = 20 apples per basket

Step 4: Interpret result

Each basket has 20 apples

Each basket has 20 apples
Final answer:

Each basket has 20 apples.

Applied rules:

• Order of operations: Perform multiplication before subtraction

• Division: Distribute remaining items equally

• Verification: Check: (8 × 15) + (6 × 20) = 120 + 120 = 240 ✓

5 Multi-Step Library Problem
Question 5
A library has 12 shelves. Each shelf holds 25 books. The librarian removes 15 books from each shelf to repair them. How many books are left on all the shelves combined?
Definition:

Multi-step problem: A problem involving operations across multiple identical groups

Total books
12 × 25
Removed
- (12 × 15)
Result
120
Step 1: Calculate total books initially

12 shelves × 25 books per shelf = 300 books

Step 2: Calculate books removed

12 shelves × 15 books per shelf = 180 books removed

Step 3: Calculate remaining books

300 - 180 = 120 books

Step 4: Interpret result

120 books are left on all shelves

120 books left on all shelves
Final answer:

There are 120 books left on all the shelves combined.

Applied rules:

• Group operations: Apply operations to each group separately

• Subtraction: Subtract total removed from total initial

• Verification: Check: 120 + 180 = 300, 300 ÷ 12 = 25 ✓

6 Multi-Step Bakery Problem
Question 6
A bakery made 180 cookies. They put 6 cookies in each bag. Then they arranged the bags into boxes, with 5 bags in each box. How many boxes did they fill completely?
Definition:

Multi-step problem: A problem requiring division in multiple steps

Cookies to bags
180 ÷ 6
Bags to boxes
÷ 5
Result
6
Step 1: Calculate number of bags

180 cookies ÷ 6 cookies per bag = 30 bags

Step 2: Calculate number of boxes

30 bags ÷ 5 bags per box = 6 boxes

Step 3: Interpret result

They filled 6 boxes completely

6 boxes filled completely
Final answer:

They filled 6 boxes completely.

Applied rules:

• Sequential division: Divide step by step through the process

• Context: Answer must relate back to the problem situation

• Verification: Check: 6 × 5 × 6 = 180 ✓

Detailed Summary & Study Guide
Solving Multi-Step Problems - Complete Summary
Definition of Multi-Step Problems:
Multi-step problems are mathematical problems that require more than one operation to solve. They often involve a sequence of operations like multiplication followed by addition, or division followed by subtraction. These problems require careful reading and planning to solve correctly.
i-Ready Assessment Focus:
i-Ready assessments emphasize problem-solving skills, mathematical reasoning, and the ability to apply multiple operations in sequence. Multi-step problems test students' ability to break down complex problems into manageable steps.
Core Problem-Solving Rules:

1. Read Carefully: Understand what the problem is asking and identify all given information

2. Plan Your Approach: Determine the sequence of operations needed to solve the problem

3. Solve Step-by-Step: Work through each operation carefully, keeping track of intermediate results

4. Check Your Answer: Verify that your answer makes sense in the context of the problem

Order of Operations:

Parentheses → Exponents → Multiplication/Division → Addition/Subtraction

When solving multi-step problems, follow this order to ensure accuracy. Operations of the same precedence are performed from left to right.

Simple Multi-Step Example:

Problem: "Sarah has 3 bags with 10 apples each. She gives 15 apples to her friend. How many apples does she have left?"

Solution: (3 × 10) - 15 = 30 - 15 = 15 apples

Complex Multi-Step Example:

Problem: "A store has 200 books. They sell 4 boxes of 12 books each, then divide the remaining books into 8 equal groups. How many books are in each group?"

Solution: (200 - (4 × 12)) ÷ 8 = (200 - 48) ÷ 8 = 152 ÷ 8 = 19 books per group

Key Tips for i-Ready Success:

1. Circle Key Numbers: Highlight important numbers in the problem

2. Underline Action Words: Identify words like "total," "remaining," "each," "per" to determine operations

3. Sketch Diagrams: Draw pictures to visualize the problem when possible

4. Work Neatly: Keep your calculations organized to avoid errors

5. Estimate First: Make a rough estimate to check if your answer is reasonable

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Rushing Through: Not reading the problem carefully enough

2. Wrong Order: Performing operations in the wrong sequence

3. Misinterpreting Words: Confusing "times more" with "times as many"

4. Calculation Errors: Making arithmetic mistakes in multi-step processes

5. No Verification: Not checking if the answer makes sense

i-Ready Problem-Solving Strategy:

1. Read the Problem Twice: First for general understanding, second to identify details

2. Identify What You Need to Find: Clearly understand the question

3. Plan the Steps: Write down the operations needed in order

4. Solve Systematically: Complete each step before moving to the next

5. Review Your Answer: Check against the original problem

Verification Techniques:

Work Backwards: Use your answer to recreate the original conditions

Estimate Check: Compare your answer to your initial estimate

Alternative Method: Try solving using a different approach

Reasonableness Test: Ask if the answer makes sense in the real world

Questions & Answers

Question: How do I know what order to do the operations in a multi-step problem?

Answer: Follow the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS): Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right). In word problems, think about what makes logical sense.

For example, if you need to find how many items are in each group, you usually multiply first to find the total, then divide. Read the problem carefully to understand the sequence of events.

Always work through the problem step by step, and check if your answer makes sense.

Question: What strategies can I teach my child to tackle multi-step problems on i-Ready?

Answer: Here are effective strategies for multi-step problems:

  • Read the problem twice - once for understanding, once to identify numbers and operations
  • Circle key numbers and underline action words
  • Draw a diagram or model to visualize the problem
  • Write down the steps before solving
  • Check the answer by working backwards

Encourage your child to take their time and not rush through the problem-solving process.

Question: What if I get stuck on a step in a multi-step problem?

Answer: If you get stuck, try these approaches:

1. Reread the problem to make sure you understood it correctly

2. Look for simpler parts of the problem you can solve first

3. Draw a picture or make a table to organize information

4. Try working backwards from what you know

5. Make an educated guess and check if it works

Remember, it's okay to take breaks and come back to challenging problems with fresh eyes.