Free Math Word Problem Worksheets for Fifth-Graders

Math Word Problems Mix

Print the PDF: Math Word Problems Mix

This worksheet provides a nice mix of problems, including questions that require students to exhibit their skills in multiplication, division, working with dollar amounts, creative reasoning, and finding the average. Help your fifth-grade students see that word problems don't have to be daunting by going over at least one problem with them.

For example, problem No. 1 asks:

"During the summer holidays, your brother earns extra money mowing lawns. He mows six lawns an hour and has 21 lawns to mow. How long will it take him?"

The brother would have to be Superman to mow six lawns an hour. Nevertheless, since this is what the problem specifies, explain to students that they should first define what they know and what they want to determine:

• Your brother can mow six lawns an hour.
• He has 21 lawns to mow.

To solve the problem, explain to students that they should write it as two fractions:

6 lawns/hour = 21 lawns/x hours

Then they should cross multiply. To do this, take the first fraction's numerator (top number) and multiply it by the second fraction's denominator (bottom number). Then take the second fraction's numerator and multiply it by the first fraction's denominator, as follows:

6x = 21 hours

Next, divide each side by 6 to solve for x:

6x/6 = 21 hours/6
x = 3.5 hours

So, your hard-working brother would need only 3.5 hours to mow 21 lawns. He's a speedy gardener.

Math Word Problems Mix: Solutions

Print the PDF: Math Word Problems Mix: Solutions

This worksheet provides the solutions to the problems students worked in the printable from slide No. 1. If you see that students are struggling after they turn in their work, show them how to work a problem or two.

For example, problem No. 6 is actually just a simple division problem:

"Your mom bought you a one-year swimming pass for $390. She’s making 12 payments of how much money to pay for the pass?"

Explain that, to solve this problem, you simply divide the cost of a one-year swimming pass, $390, by the number of payments, 12, as follows:

$390/12 = $32.50

Thus, the cost of each monthly payment that your mom makes is $32.50. Be sure to thank your mom.

More Math Word Problems

Print the PDF: More Math Word Problems

This worksheet contains problems that are a bit more challenging than those on the previous printable. For example, problem No. 1 states:

"Four friends are eating personal pan pizzas. Jane has 3/4 left, Jill has 3/5 left, Cindy has 2/3 left and Jeff has 2/5 left. Who has the most amount of pizza left?"

Explain that you first need to find the lowest common denominator (LCD), the bottom number in each fraction, to solve this problem. To find the LCD, first multiply the different denominators:

4 x 5 x 3 = 60

Then, multiply the numerator and denominator by the number needed for each to create a common denominator. (Remember that any number divided by itself is one.) So you would have:

• Jane: 3/4 x 15/15 = 45/60
• Jill: 3/5 x 12/12 = 36/60
• Cindy: 2/3 x 20/20 = 40/60
• Jeff: 2/5 x 12/12 = 24/60

Jane has the most pizza left: 45/60, or three-fourths. She'll have plenty to eat tonight.

More Math Word Problems: Solutions

 Print the PDF: More Math Word Problems: Solutions

If students are still struggling to come up with the right answers, it's time for a few different strategies. Consider going over all of the problems on the board and showing students how to solve them. Alternatively, break students up into groups—either three or six groups, depending on how many students you have. Then have each group solve one or two problems as you circulate around the room to help. Working together can help students think creatively as they mull over a problem or two; often, as a group, they may arrive at a solution even if they struggled to solve the problems independently.