Math Word Problems

Step-by-Step Solved Guide

10 Fully Worked Examples • 5 Practice Questions

For 11+ / Scholarship Level | Big Font for Easy Reading

■ Fractions ■ Area & Perimeter ■ Speed / Distance / Time

■ Logic & Combinations ■ Time & Calendar ■ Number & Age Puzzles

Read the question carefully → Understand what is GIVEN and what is ASKED → Work step by
step!

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 1

 The Sweets Bag Problem
Q1
Topic: Fractions of a Quantity

My brother, sister and I are given a bag of sweets. My brother has first
pick and greedily eats two-thirds (2/3) of them. He hands the bag to my
sister who eats three-quarters (3/4) of the remaining sweets. There are
just 6 sweets left for me. How many sweets did the bag contain to begin
with?

GIVEN Brother eats: 2/3 of total | Sister eats: 3/4 of what's left | I get: 6 sweets

STEP 1 Brother eats 2/3. So what's LEFT after brother = 1 - 2/3 = 1/3 of the
After
total bag.
Brother

STEP 2 Sister eats 3/4 of that 1/3. So she eats: 3/4 × 1/3 = 3/12 = 1/4 of the
After Sister total bag.

STEP 3
What I get = 1/3 - 1/4 = 4/12 - 3/12 = 1/12 of the total bag.
What I get

STEP 4 1/12 of total = 6 sweets (what I actually received). So total = 6 × 12 =

Solve 72 sweets.

Total = 72. Brother eats 2/3 × 72 = 48. Left = 24. Sister eats 3/4 × 24 =
CHECK ✓
18. Left = 24 - 18 = 6. ✓ Correct!

■ ANSWER: 72 sweets were in the bag to begin with.

■ KEY Work BACKWARDS from what you KNOW. If 1/12 = 6, then multiply 6 × 12 to
IDEA find the whole!

The Garden & Gravel Path

Q2
Topic: Area & Perimeter

My back garden is a rectangular lawn measuring 10 m by 8 m,

surrounded by a gravel path of constant width 1 m. Calculate the area
of the gravel path.

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 2

 Imagine a big rectangle (whole garden including path) with a smaller
PICTURE IT
rectangle (just the lawn) inside it.

STEP 1
The lawn is 10 m × 8 m. Lawn Area = 10 × 8 = 80 m²
Lawn Area

The path is 1 m wide ALL the way around. So the outer rectangle is:
STEP 2
Width = 10 + 1 + 1 = 12 m | Length = 8 + 1 + 1 = 10 m (Add 1 m on
Outer Size
EACH side — left+right and top+bottom)

STEP 3
Outer Area = 12 × 10 = 120 m²
Outer Area

STEP 4
Gravel Path Area = Outer Area - Lawn Area = 120 - 80 = 40 m²
Path Area

■ ANSWER: Area of gravel path = 40 m²

■ KEY BIG rectangle minus SMALL rectangle = the border/frame area. Always add
IDEA the path width to BOTH sides (×2)!

Two Cars on a Motorway

Q3
Topic: Speed, Distance, Time

At 10:00 am, two cars are 120 miles apart on a motorway, and are
moving towards each other at constant speeds. One car is moving at 50
mph and the other at 70 mph. At what time will they pass each other?

KEY Time = Distance ÷ Speed When two objects move TOWARDS each
FORMULA other, ADD their speeds together.

STEP 1 Car 1 speed = 50 mph Car 2 speed = 70 mph Combined closing

Combined speed = 50 + 70 = 120 mph (Every hour, they are 120 miles CLOSER
Speed to each other)

STEP 2 They start 120 miles apart. Time = Distance ÷ Combined Speed = 120
Time to
÷ 120 = 1 hour
Meet

STEP 3
They start at 10:00 am. 10:00 am + 1 hour = 11:00 am
Final Time

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 3

 ■ ANSWER: The cars will pass each other at 11:00 am.

Moving TOWARDS each other? ADD speeds. Moving AWAY from each other?
■ KEY
Still ADD speeds (closing gap reversed). Moving in SAME direction?
IDEA
SUBTRACT speeds.

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 4

 The Party Handshakes
Q4
Topic: Logic & Combinations

Three strangers go to a party. At the beginning, each person shakes

hands with the other two people, exactly once. (a) How many
handshakes are there in total with 3 strangers? (b) How many
handshakes if four strangers attend? (c) How many if five strangers
attend?

Each handshake involves 2 people. Once A shakes B's hand, B does

KEY IDEA
NOT shake A's hand again (that's 1 handshake, not 2).

A shakes B's hand ✓ A shakes C's hand ✓ B shakes C's hand ✓ B-A
3 PEOPLE
already done ✗ | C-A already done ✗ | C-B already done ✗ Total = 3
A, B, C
handshakes

A shakes: B, C, D = 3 handshakes B shakes: C, D (not A, done) = 2

4 PEOPLE
handshakes C shakes: D (not A or B, done) = 1 handshake D:
A,B,C,D
everyone done = 0 Total = 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 handshakes

5 PEOPLE
4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 10 handshakes
A,B,C,D,E

THE For n people: Total handshakes = n × (n-1) ÷ 2 3 people: 3×2÷2 = 3 ✓

FORMULA 4 people: 4×3÷2 = 6 ✓ 5 people: 5×4÷2 = 10 ✓

■ ANSWER: 3 people = 3 | 4 people = 6 | 5 people = 10 handshakes

■ KEY Use the formula: n × (n-1) ÷ 2. Or draw people as dots and count the LINES
IDEA connecting each pair!

The Age Puzzle

Q5
Topic: Age / Algebra Word Problems

Ria is 3 times as old as her brother Sam. In 6 years, Ria will be twice as
old as Sam. How old are they now?

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 5

LET'S USE Let Sam's age NOW = S years. Then Ria's age NOW = 3 × S = 3S
LETTERS years. (Because Ria is 3 times as old as Sam)

STEP 1 In 6
Sam's age in 6 years = S + 6 Ria's age in 6 years = 3S + 6
years

STEP 2 Set In 6 years, Ria is TWICE Sam's age: Ria's age = 2 × Sam's age 3S +
Up
6 = 2 × (S + 6)
Equation

STEP 3
3S + 6 = 2S + 12 3S - 2S = 12 - 6 S = 6 So Sam is 6 years old NOW.
Solve

STEP 4
Ria = 3 × S = 3 × 6 = 18 years old NOW.
Find Ria

Now: Ria(18) = 3 × Sam(6) ✓ In 6 years: Ria = 24, Sam = 12. Is 24 = 2

CHECK ✓
× 12? YES ✓

■ ANSWER: Sam is 6 years old. Ria is 18 years old.

■ KEY Let the SMALLER/UNKNOWN age = S. Write the other age in terms of S.
IDEA Then use the FUTURE condition to make an equation!

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 6

 The Sale Price Problem
Q6
Topic: Percentages & Discount

A jacket costs £80. In a sale, it is reduced by 15%. Then the shopkeeper

offers an extra 10% off the sale price. What is the final price?

STEP 1 Original price = £80 15% of £80 = 15 ÷ 100 × 80 = £12 Sale Price =
First
£80 - £12 = £68 (Or: 100% - 15% = 85% remaining → 0.85 × 80 =
Discount
15% off £68)

STEP 2
Second 10% off the SALE PRICE (not original!) 10% of £68 = 10 ÷ 100 × 68 =
Discount £6.80 Final Price = £68 - £6.80 = £61.20 (Or: 0.90 × 68 = £61.20)
10% off

The total discount is NOT 15% + 10% = 25%. 25% of £80 = £20,
IMPORTAN
giving £60. That is WRONG! The second 10% applies to the
T ■■
ALREADY REDUCED price!

CHECK ✓ £80 → -15% → £68 → -10% → £61.20 ✓

■ ANSWER: Final price = £61.20

■ KEY Successive discounts are NOT added! Each discount applies to the
IDEA PREVIOUS price. Apply one at a time.

Sharing in a Ratio
Q7
Topic: Ratio & Proportion

Arjun, Priya and Dev share £360 in the ratio 3 : 4 : 5. How much does
each person receive?

STEP 1
Add up the ratio numbers: 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 parts in total
Total Parts

STEP 2
Value of 1 Total money = £360 Value of 1 part = £360 ÷ 12 = £30 per part
Part

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 7

 STEP 3 Arjun gets: 3 parts × £30 = £90 Priya gets: 4 parts × £30 = £120 Dev
Each Share gets: 5 parts × £30 = £150

CHECK ✓ £90 + £120 + £150 = £360 ✓

■ ANSWER: Arjun = £90 | Priya = £120 | Dev = £150

■ KEY Step 1: Add ratio parts. Step 2: Divide total by sum. Step 3: Multiply each ratio
IDEA number by value of 1 part. Always check they ADD UP!

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 8

 The Missing Score Problem
Q8
Topic: Mean / Average

Kavya scored the following marks in 5 tests: 72, 85, 68, 90, and one
unknown score. Her average mark across all 5 tests is 80. What is her
missing score?

KEY Mean (Average) = Sum of all values ÷ Number of values Rearranged:

FORMULA Sum = Mean × Number of values

STEP 1
Total Average = 80, Number of tests = 5 Total marks needed = 80 × 5 = 400
Needed

STEP 2
Known marks = 72 + 85 + 68 + 90 = 315
Total So Far

STEP 3
Missing Missing score = Total needed - Total so far = 400 - 315 = 85
Score

CHECK ✓ (72 + 85 + 68 + 90 + 85) ÷ 5 = 400 ÷ 5 = 80 ✓

■ ANSWER: The missing score is 85.

■ KEY Work out what the TOTAL must be first (Average × Number). Then subtract
IDEA the known values to find the missing one!

The Painting Job

Q9
Topic: Work Rate Problems

Ravi can paint a room in 6 hours. His friend Meena can paint the same
room in 4 hours. How long will it take them to paint the room together?

Think about how much of the room each person paints in 1 hour (their
KEY IDEA
RATE of work).

STEP 1 Ravi paints the whole room in 6 hours. In 1 hour, Ravi paints: 1/6 of
Ravi's Rate the room.

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 9

STEP 2 Meena paints the whole room in 4 hours. In 1 hour, Meena paints: 1/4
Meena's
of the room.
Rate

STEP 3 Together in 1 hour they paint: 1/6 + 1/4 = 2/12 + 3/12 = 5/12 of the
Combined
room.
Rate

STEP 4 They paint 5/12 of the room in 1 hour. To paint the WHOLE room
Time
(12/12): Time = 1 ÷ (5/12) = 12/5 = 2.4 hours = 2 hours 24 minutes
Together

Ravi in 2.4 hrs: 2.4/6 = 0.4 of room. Meena in 2.4 hrs: 2.4/4 = 0.6 of
CHECK ✓
room. 0.4 + 0.6 = 1.0 (whole room) ✓

■ ANSWER: Together they take 2 hours 24 minutes (2.4 hours).

■ KEY Add RATES (fraction per hour), not times! Then flip it: Time = 1 ÷ Combined
IDEA Rate.

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 10

 The Train Journey Puzzle
Q10
Topic: Clock & Calendar Logic

A train leaves Mumbai at 11:45 pm on Monday and arrives in Delhi after

a journey of 16 hours and 35 minutes. On what day and at what time
does the train arrive? Also — if the return train takes 15 hours 50
minutes and leaves Delhi at 8:20 am on Wednesday, when does it arrive
back in Mumbai?

PART A
Departs: Monday 11:45 pm Journey: 16 hours 35 minutes
GIVEN

11:45 pm + 16 hours: Monday 11:45 pm → Tuesday 11:45 am? No —

STEP 1 Add count carefully: 11:45 pm + 1 hr = 12:45 am (Tuesday begins!)
Hours Tuesday 12:45 am + 15 more hours = Tuesday 3:45 pm (Total hours
added: 1 + 15 = 16 hours)

STEP 2 Add Tuesday 3:45 pm + 35 minutes: 45 + 35 = 80 minutes = 1 hour 20

Minutes minutes So 3:45 pm + 1 hr 20 min = 5:05 pm

PART A
Train arrives: Tuesday at 5:05 pm
Answer

PART B
Departs: Wednesday 8:20 am Journey: 15 hours 50 minutes
GIVEN

STEP 3 Add
8:20 am + 15 hours = 11:20 pm (Wednesday)
Hours

STEP 4 Add 11:20 pm + 50 minutes: 20 + 50 = 70 min = 1 hr 10 min 11:20 pm + 1

Minutes hr 10 min = 12:30 am (Thursday!)

PART B
Train arrives: Thursday at 12:30 am
Answer

■ ANSWER: Part A: Tuesday 5:05 pm | Part B: Thursday 12:30 am

■ KEY When crossing midnight, the day changes! Add hours first, then minutes. If
IDEA minutes exceed 60 — carry over 1 hour and keep the remainder.

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 11

 ■ Practice Questions — Try These Yourself!

P1 Practice 1 — Fractions

A pizza is shared between 3 friends. Anil eats 1/3 of it. Bina eats 3/4 of
what is left. If 2 slices remain, how many slices were in the whole pizza
to start?

Anil eats 1/3 → 2/3 left. Bina eats 3/4 of 2/3 = 1/2. Remaining = 2/3 -
ANSWER ■ 1/2 = 4/6 - 3/6 = 1/6. 1/6 of pizza = 2 slices. Whole pizza = 2 × 6 = 12
slices.

P2 Practice 2 — Area & Perimeter

A rectangular swimming pool is 25 m long and 10 m wide. It is

surrounded by a tiled border that is 2 m wide all around. What is the
area of the tiled border?

Pool area = 25 × 10 = 250 m². Outer dimensions: 29 m × 14 m. Outer

ANSWER ■
area = 29 × 14 = 406 m². Border area = 406 - 250 = 156 m².

P3 Practice 3 — Speed / Distance / Time

Two cyclists start from the same point and ride in opposite directions.
One cycles at 12 km/h and the other at 18 km/h. After how many hours
will they be 75 km apart?

Moving in opposite directions: ADD speeds. Combined speed = 12 +

ANSWER ■
18 = 30 km/h. Time = 75 ÷ 30 = 2.5 hours.

P4 Practice 4 — Mean / Average

In 4 cricket matches, a batsman scored 45, 62, 38 and 71 runs. What

score must he make in the 5th match to achieve an average of 55?

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 12

 Total needed = 55 × 5 = 275. Total so far = 45+62+38+71 = 216.
ANSWER ■
Missing score = 275 - 216 = 59 runs.

P5 Practice 5 — Logic & Combinations

In a class, every student shakes hands with every other student exactly
once. There are 28 handshakes in total. How many students are in the
class?

Formula: n(n-1)/2 = 28 → n(n-1) = 56. Try n=8: 8×7=56 ✓. So there

ANSWER ■
are 8 students.

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 13

 ■ GOLDEN RULES FOR MATHS WORD PROBLEMS ■ 1■■ Read the
question TWICE — once to understand, once to find what is ASKED.
2■■ Write down what is GIVEN before doing any calculation. 3■■
Choose the right operation: + − × ÷ or formula. 4■■ Show ALL working
— even if you make a small error, you get credit. 5■■ CHECK your
answer by plugging it back into the question. 6■■ Label your answer
with UNITS (cm², mph, £, hours etc.).

11+ Math Word Problems — Step-by-Step Guide • Page 14