3rd Grade Two-Step Word Problems and Patterns Worksheet (PDF)
This two step problems worksheet for 3rd Grade covers two-step word problems and patterns (Common Core 3.OA.D.8, 3.OA.D.9), with a free PDF to print.
Grade 3 · Common Core State Standards: 3.OA.D.8, 3.OA.D.9
Two step problems worksheet: exercises 1 to 10
Exercise 1 – Groups, then add
Ruby packs 4 boxes with 6 pencils in each box. She adds 7 loose pencils. How many pencils \(p\) does she have in all?
Exercise 2 – Groups, then subtract
A farmer fills 5 crates with 7 pumpkins each. Then 9 pumpkins are sold. How many pumpkins \(r\) are left?
Exercise 3 – Add, then subtract
Mei has 28 red beads and 35 blue beads. She uses 19 beads for a bracelet. How many beads \(b\) does she have left?
Exercise 4 – Subtract twice
A school play has 90 tickets. The drama club sells 36 tickets on Friday and 27 tickets on Saturday. How many tickets \(t\) are left?
Exercise 5 – Share, then add
Jamal shares 24 stickers equally among 4 friends. His friend Kai then gets 5 more stickers. How many stickers \(s\) does Kai have?
Exercise 6 – Write the equation
Sofia has 3 shelves with 9 books on each shelf. She adds 4 more books. Write one equation with the letter \(b\) for the total number of books. Then solve it.
Exercise 7 – Solve for the letter
Solve: \(4 \times 8 + 9 = t\).
Exercise 8 – Divide, then add
Solve: \(35 \div 5 + 8 = q\).
Exercise 9 – Multiply, then subtract
Solve: \(6 \times 7 – 15 = w\).
Exercise 10 – Parentheses first
Solve: \((6 + 4) \times 3 = z\).
Exercises 11 and up
Exercise 11 – Estimate a sum
Round each number to the nearest ten to estimate \(38 + 42 + 19\). Then find the exact sum.
Exercise 12 – Is it reasonable?
Liam says that \(48 + 37 = 75\). Use an estimate to decide if his answer is reasonable. Then find the correct sum.
Exercise 13 – Estimate a product
Noah buys 4 packs with 19 cards in each pack. Round 19 to the nearest ten to estimate the number of cards. Then find the exact number.
Exercise 14 – Skip-counting pattern
Find the rule and the next two numbers in the pattern.
Exercise 15 – Pattern in a chart
Look at the ones digits of the shaded numbers. What pattern do you see? Are the shaded numbers even or odd?
Exercise 16 – Even or odd sums
Find \(7 + 9\), \(13 + 11\), and \(21 + 5\). Is each sum even or odd? What do you notice about the sum of two odd numbers?
Exercise 17 – Multiples of 6
List the first six multiples of 6. Explain why every multiple of 6 is even.
Exercise 18 – Savings pattern
Ethan has $10 in a jar at the start. He adds $4 each week. The table shows the total after each week.
| Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved | $14 | $18 | $22 | $26 |
What is the total after week 5? Write an equation with the letter \(t\) and find the total after week 8.
Exercise 19 – Farm stand
A farm stand has 7 baskets with 9 peaches in each basket. Customers buy 26 peaches. How many peaches \(p\) are left?
Exercise 20 – Bake sale
Diego bakes 4 trays with 12 cookies on each tray. He puts 6 cookies in each bag. Each bag sells for $3 at the bake sale. How many dollars \(d\) does he earn if he sells all the bags?
Exercise 21 – Road trip
A family drives 145 miles on Monday and 168 miles on Tuesday. The whole trip is 400 miles. How many miles \(m\) are left?
Exercise 22 – Team practice
A Little League coach has 36 players. She splits them equally into 4 teams. Then each team gets 2 extra players from the bench. How many players \(n\) are on each team now?
Exercise 23 – Unknown at the start
Aisha had some stickers. She gave away 8 stickers and then got 5 more. Now she has 30 stickers. Let \(n\) be the number she had at first. Find \(n\).
Exercise 24 – Check with an estimate
At the school store, Maya buys 3 notebooks that cost $19 each and a pen that costs $8. She says she spent $75. Estimate the cost first. Then find the exact cost. Is Maya correct?
Key facts behind this two step problems worksheet
- A two-step problem has a hidden question that is solved first.
- A letter such as m stands for the unknown number in an equation.
- Rounding to the nearest 10 gives a quick estimate to check an answer.
- An arithmetic pattern follows a rule such as add 7 each time.
- Odd + odd = even, even + even = even, even + odd = odd.
How to use this two step problems worksheet
Work through the exercises in order: they go from simple to challenging. Write every step on paper, then compare with the solutions page and redo any exercise you missed the next day.
Download the two step problems worksheet as a PDF with the button below and keep it with your notes.
Download the two step problems worksheet as a PDF with the button below and keep it with your notes.
All Grade 3 chapters: Grade 3 math.
