maths problem solving for 7 year olds

Maths: Age 7–8 (Year 3)

In Year 3, your child will continue to develop their understanding of numbers and start to calculate using formal written methods. They will learn a lot more about fractions, including tenths. They will find perimeters of 2D shapes, use the 24-hour clock, recognise angles, and start to use bar charts.

They’ll count in steps of 4, 8, 50 and 100 and order numbers to 1000. They’ll partition numbers into 100s, 10s and 1s, add and subtract three-digit numbers, and multiply two-digit by one-digit numbers. They will be taught the 3, 4, and 8 times tables and begin to add and subtract fractions.

Don’t worry if some methods that your child learns are new to you! There are still simple things you can do at home to support their development.

How to help at home

You don’t need to be an expert to support your child with maths or help them develop a good sense of number! Here are three simple, but effective learning ideas that you can try with your child using everyday items at home.  

1. Make arrays

Arrays  are shapes or objects arranged in a rectangle, such as a muffin tray or an egg box. Give your child some counters, buttons or beads, say 12. How many different arrays can they make? What calculations does each array show?

2. Play with food

Use foods with a regular shape (cake, pizza, cucumber slices) and ask questions like: Let’s cut this into 8 pieces, what fraction is each piece?

Find fractions of amounts using foods such as fishfingers or biscuits: There are 12 in the packet and 4 of us. What fraction can we each have? How many each is that?

3. Hunt for treasure

Hide some ‘treasure’ in a room and blindfold your child. Give them directions to find the treasure, such as: Turn two right angles clockwise, now take three steps forward. Use whole, half, quarter and three-quarter turns clockwise and anti-clockwise.

You’ll find more activity ideas in our Kids’ activities section

What your child will learn at school

Number & place value in year 3 (age 7–8).

In Year 3, children will be expected to recognise hundreds, tens and ones in 3-digit numbers (for example, 423 has 4 hundreds, 2 tens and 3 ones). This includes:

• counting in steps of 4, 8, 50 and 100
• reading, writing, comparing and ordering numbers to 1000
• finding 10 or 100 more or less than a number.

More information and activity ideas for Year 3

Addition & subtraction in Year 3 (age 7–8)

In Year 3, children will be expected to be able to use a range of strategies to solve problems mentally and learn formal written methods for column addition and column subtraction. This includes:

• adding and subtracting numbers with up to three digits
• estimating answers to problems before working them out accurately and checking using the inverse operation, i.e. using addition to check subtraction and vice versa
• explaining how they have solved a problem and why they chose a particular method.

Multiplication & division in Year 3 (age 7–8)

In Year 3, children will be expected to use a range of strategies to solve problems mentally and begin to learn formal written methods for short multiplication and short division. This includes:

• knowing and using multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 times tables
• multiplying two-digit by one-digit numbers
• understanding that multiplication and division have an inverse relationship, i.e. they undo each other, and using this to check their calculations.

Fractions in Year 3 (age 7–8)

In Year 3, children will be expected to be able to compare and order fractions and begin to add and subtract fractions with the same denominator. This includes:

• counting up and down in tenths and connecting tenths to dividing by 10
• using unit and non-unit fractions

Geometry in Year 3 (age 7–8)

In Year 3, children will be expected to use accurate mathematical language to describe properties of a wider range of symmetrical and non-symmetrical shapes. This includes:

• drawing 2D shapes and making 3D shapes
• identifying angles greater or less than a right angle
• identifying horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular lines.

Measurement in Year 3 (age 7–8)

In Year 3, children will be expected to be able to add and subtract measurements, tell the time to the nearest minute and compare durations of time. This includes:

• measuring and adding to find the perimeter of 2D shapes
• telling the time using 12-hour and 24-hour clocks, including Roman numerals I to XII for 1 to 12
• adding and subtracting amounts of money to give change.

Statistics in Year 3 (age 7–8)

In Year 3, children will interpret and present data in a range of ways. This includes:

• interpreting and making bar charts, pictograms, and tables
• understanding information presented using scales
• solving one-step and two-step problems using data.
• Age 3–4 (Early Years)
• Age 4–5 (Reception)
• Age 5–6 (Year 1)
• Age 6–7 (Year 2)
• Age 7–8 (Year 3)
• Age 8–9 (Year 4)
• Age 9–10 (Year 5)
• Age 10–11 (Year 6)
• Year 1 (age 5–6)
• Year 2 (age 6–7)
• Year 3 (age 7–8)
• Year 4 (age 8–9)
• Year 5 (age 9–10)
• Year 6 (age 10–11)
• Help with times tables
• Ratio & proportion
• Learning to tell the time
• Numicon parent guide
• MyMaths parent guide
• Maths activity books

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Math Problems For kids

Math lessons and practice are mostly never on top of a kid’s to-do list for the day. They would rather do anything other than solve math problems for kids or sit through a math class. But math is an important part of a child’s education, it’s crucial children learn math and do well in the subject. In this regard, math problems for kids must be given extra attention in order to enhance their mathematical skills. To start with, explore easy math problems for kids for better understanding. Besides this, explore math games for kids for long-term enjoyment and engagement. 

Check out more interesting math problems for kids online so that they get a variety of equations to solve. At the age of 5-6 kids, you must focus on addition math problems for kids and later with other complex math problems. To enhance their performance, you can conduct math activities where math problems for kids can be solved easily. Must say! There are quite simple math problems for kids available here. Read on to find out. 

How To Make Simple Math Problems For Kids Easy? 

Math problems for kids are applications of concepts of mathematics. Learning math and solving math problems for kids can never be ignored. So, however reluctant your child may be, you still need to get them to learn and practice math. The best way to get an uninterested child to learn math is to make it more interesting.

• Kids learn better when they’re engaged with hands-on and fun learning activities and worksheets. Entice your child to sit through a math lesson or a session of problem-solving by including fun activities in the lesson.
• Parents and educators often assume that a child who doesn’t do well in math has no aptitude for the subject. However, this is far from the truth. The problem doesn’t lie in the child’s aptitude, it lies in the way of teaching, lack of understanding and lack of practice.
• Hands-on activities and educational play will help children understand lessons better. But only when they practice what they’ve learned, they get better at the concept. According to several studies, kids who practice solving math problems tend to score well in the subject.
• Incorporate real life examples to teach math problems for kids. Look around the scenarios around the house or in the classroom to prepare simple math problems for kids. 
• Include interesting materials or props in the classroom or at home for teaching math problems for kids. For example, building blocks, popsicle sticks, balls or any other materials that help you in teaching math problems. 

Tips To Teach Math Problems For Kids 

All through their school years, children learn several of these math concepts. The lessons are reinforced by solving problems. But sometimes, these problems can get too complicated and stump the kids. Here are some tips to help kids tackle math problems easily.

• Plan Strategies: Each problem needs to be looked at from a different viewpoint and choose the appropriate strategies for that problem. For that, you need to first understand the problem, work out strategies to solve the problem and effective strategies to check the answers. Once kids understand these strategies, they’ll be able to solve most mathematical problems on their own.
• Understanding the problem: When faced with a math problem, several students have trouble figuring out what it’s asking them to do. They have trouble assessing what they need to do in a problem. Often, this becomes the greatest hurdle for most kids. In this regard, you can assist them by giving clues so that kids understand the problems more easily. 
• Read the question multiple times: Often, the answer to a math problem lies in the question itself. Kids often miss out on vital information when they skim through instead of completely reading the problem. So, encourage the kids to read the question several times until they figure out what they need to do.
• Identifying vital information: When kids look at a mathematical problem, they sometimes don’t focus on the vital information in the question. Without the relevant information, they struggle to solve the problem. Teach students to identify relevant and vital information in the question and highlight it. Then ask them to use this information to solve the problem. A great way to do this is to swap out unnecessary information about the problem, like names or situations. Keep the numerals intact and solve the problem. Help them understand that altering the scenarios or names or objects does not change the end result. This helps them understand what should be the point of focus while solving problems.
• Solving the problem: Often, the simplest of things help us solve the most complicated of problems. It’s all about choosing the right strategy to solve the problem on hand. When solving math problems for kids, employing very simple and basic strategies will help kids come up with the solution.
• Visualizing: Sometimes, when you’re faced with an abstract problem, visualizing it helps to solve the problem. A simple thing like drawing pictures or tally marks could help children figure out how to solve a problem.
• Finding patterns: Most math problems for kids have a pattern. Once kids learn to find and exploit the pattern, they’ll be able to find the necessary information to solve the problem. To find the pattern, kids must list all the relevant information in a problem. Then compare this information to locate the missing fact and solve the problem. 
• Work backwards to solve the problem: Sometimes, you’re faced with a problem or mathematical sentence that wants you to find a missing number. In such cases, work backwards from the answer to find the missing number and solve the sum. For example: 12 – x = 8. In this problem, students need to find the value of x.
• Start with the answer to the problem. So, here we start with 8.
• Shift the x to the right and 8 to the left in the equation. So, it can be rewritten as: 12 – 8 = x.
• Subtract 8 from 12. 12 – 8 = 4.
• Therefore, x = 4.
• Check the answers:

Checking the solution is one of the most important parts of solving math problems for kids. Often, kids rush through the process of solving a problem to get an answer but forget to check if the solution is correct. And most often, this misstep causes errors. Checking the steps followed and the solution is an important step of problem-solving. It helps pinpoint areas of difficulty and to fix any errors they’ve made in the process. 

• Checking with peers: Comparing answers with peers is a great way to check if the solution you arrived at is right. Sometimes, it also helps students learn different methods of solving the same problem. A peer can help point out errors in working out the problem and troubleshoot ways to fix the errors.
• Backtracking to check and fix mistakes: Teach students to check the solution to the problem step-by-step to find errors in the process. Then, they can fix the errors to find the correct solution to the problem. These simple strategies can make solving even the most complicated math problems simple. Kids need to get comfortable with solving math problems. Additionally, solving more sums will help them gain more confidence. This, in turn, will improve their problem-solving skills. 

Examples Of Math problems For Kids 

Check out a few examples of math problems for kids addition and subtraction given below: 

• The target score set for the bowling game is 100, Sam scores 65 points and Dan scores 50 points in the first round. How many points do Sam and Dan need to reach the target score? 

Answer: Sam needs to score 35 points and Dan needs 50 points to reach the target score. 

• There were two brothers living across the street in New York City. The elder brother was carrying 5 apples and 2 pears in his hand from the grocery store, whereas the younger brother carried 3 apples and 3 pears. How many apples and pears did both brothers carry?

Answer: The total number of apples and pears they carried are 8 and 5 respectively. 

• Fill in the missing numbers for the questions mentioned below:

100- 20= ———— – 40 = —————– – 15 = —————-

Answer: 100- 20= 80- 40= 40-15= 25

• Solve the following addition problem given below:

10= 3 + ———–

Answer:  10= 3 + 7

• Solve the following subtraction problem given below: 

9 – 3 = ————

Answer: 9 – 3 = 6

• There are three girls playing on the swing and two girls playing on the slide.  What is the total number of girls playing in the park

Answer: There are five girls playing in the park. 

• There are five monkeys sitting on the tree. If one monkey goes down to fetch some food. How many monkeys are sitting on the tree? 

Answer: There are four monkeys sitting on the tree. 

• There are around 15 chairs kept for the musical chair competition. When one of the participants is out of the game. How many chairs are kept for the game to continue? 4

Answer: 14 chairs.

• There are 200 vehicles parked near the mall. 80 out of them are cars and the rest are bikes. How many bikes are there in the parking lot? 

Answer: There are 120 bikes parked in the parking lot of a mall. 

• In an orchard, there are 500 trees. 300 are apple trees and the rest are orange trees. What is the total number of orange trees in the orchard? 

Answer: 200 orange trees. 

• Complete the counting series given below:

14, __, __, __, __, 24, __, 28, 30

Answer: 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. 

• There are 20 balloons blown for the birthday party. Arthur bursted 12 balloons while playing. How many balloons are left for the party? 

Answer: 8 Balloons

• Sam is keeping 25 pencils in a box. How many pencils do Sam require for 10 boxes?

Answer: 250 pencils required for 10 boxes. 

• Complete the even number series given below:

2, __, __, 8, 10, __, __…..

Answer: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14….

•  Rumi has 19 popsicle sticks with him. If he gives 15 popsicle sticks to his friend. How many popsicle sticks are left with him? 

Answer: 19-15= 4

• Your friend has arranged a birthday party for you. He has got a yummy cake with 5 red candles, 10 pink candles and 8 blue candles? What is the total number of candles your friend gets?

Answer: 5+10+ 8= 23 candles. 

• There are 6 slices of pizza. Your friend has eaten 4 slices of pizza. How many total slices of pizza are left? 

Answer: 2 slices of pizza

•  10 Boys are there in the 4th of July parade. Later, 15 more boys join the parade. How many boys have joined the parade? 

Answer: 25 Boys

• Jack has got eight puppies for his pet shop. Two puppies were taken by the customer. How many puppies are left with Jack? 

Answer: 6 Puppies. 

•  Solve the following problem given below:

40 + ————-= 50 x ———= 500 – 100

Answer: 40 + 10 = 50 x 10 = 500 – 100

• William has 20 goldfish in a water tank. He observes that 10 goldfish have died after 10 days. Currently, how many total goldfish are there in the tank? 

Answer: 10 Goldfish

• Tim has gone to buy ingredients for making a sandwich. He purchases bell pepper for  2$, tomato sauce for 3$ and cheese for 4 $. What is the total cost of all the ingredients? 

Answer: 9 $ 

•  If you take 30 mins to walk one mile, How long will it take to walk five miles? 

Answer: 1 hour 50 minutes 

• If a square has four sides, how many sides does a triangle have? 

Answer: Three

• Fill the missing numbers given below:

25 + —–= 50 

Answer: 25 

• There are four vendors selling dry fruits across the street. One of the vendors packed his stuff and left the place. How many vendors did you see still selling the dry fruits? 

Answer: 3 vendors

• How many sides does an octagon have? 

Answer: 8 Sides 

• There are 30 cotton balls stuffed in a soft toy. If you remove 20 cotton balls, how many will be remaining inside the toy? 

Answer: 10 cotton balls

• Multiply the following number given below: 

30 x 12 = 360 

Answer: 360 

• There are 250 bags of rice, 200 bags of corn and 300 bags of millets kept in the store. What is the total number of bags in the store? 

Answer: 750 Bags 

Benefits of Math Problems For Kids 

Some of the benefits of free math problems for kids are mentioned below: 

• Solving math problems will help your child become more confident in the subject and help them develop several skills. They are great tools through which kids learn to apply their math skills and solve a range of mathematical problems. Solving these math problems will also help them develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• They start developing interest in acquiring math skills with utmost confidence and dedication. 
• Solving problems helps kids to think out of the box scenarios to come up with logical solutions to problems. 
• Math problems for kids improve their academic performance. 
• Kids become highly skilled in solving problems associated with any mathematical concepts accurately. 
• Math problems for kids enables them to manage time, speed and accuracy while solving any equations. 

Check Osmo for more activities, games to aid in your kids learning – math riddles for kids , coding games for kids and writing games for kids .

Frequently Asked Questions on Math Problems for kids

What are the math problems for kids.

The Math Problems for kids are fill in the missing numbers, 10, 20, _, 40, _, _, 70, _, 90, _. What is the product of 5 x 6 x 7?, etc.

How to teach Math Problems for kids?

You can teach Math Problems for kids in the interesting and fun ways such as, helping kids identify the patterns, study the questions repeatedly and understand the problems, then help them to visualize on how to solve the problems.

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

• The Number System and Place Value
• Calculations and Numerical Methods
• Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
• Properties of Numbers
• Patterns, Sequences and Structure
• Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
• Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

• Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
• 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
• Measuring and calculating with units
• Transformations and constructions
• Pythagoras and Trigonometry
• Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

• Handling, Processing and Representing Data
• Probability

Working mathematically

• Thinking mathematically
• Developing positive attitudes
• Cross-curricular contexts
• Physical and digital manipulatives

Advanced mathematics

• Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
• Advanced Probability and Statistics

For younger learners

• Early Years Foundation Stage

Maths at Home

These groups of tasks for 7 to 11 year olds are part of our wider  Maths at Home feature . Enjoy dipping in! 

Just Jottings (7-11)

You need nothing more than pencil and paper to work on these tasks.

Interactive Games and Puzzles (7-11)

These activities all include an online interactivity.

Maths to Take Your Time Over (7-11)

These tasks are worth exploring over a few days or even a few weeks and may involve printing or interactives.

Print it Out (7-11) Live

You need access to a printer to get the most out of these tasks.

Homemade Maths (7-11)

You'll need some everyday bits and pieces for these tasks.

• Free Resources

Maths Problems and Investigations for 7–9 Year Olds

Maths Problems and Investigations for 7-9 Year Olds contains differentiated problem-solving activities, making it easy to use in mixed ability Year 3 and 4 classes. Each page has a focus – ranging from sports, shopping and jobs to cooking, travel and building – providing real-life problems for children to solve.

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Maths Problems and Investigations is a three-book series of reproducible problem-solving activities for use in primary schools. This book is aimed at Years 3 and 4.

Activities engage pupils in problem solving across a wide range of mathematical operations so it is easy to integrate them into your lessons.

Each page provides differentiated activities at three levels, making them ideal for use in mixed ability classes.

The activities help children to develop, reinforce and consolidate their problem solving skills. For each activity children will need to:

• read the problem
• identify relevant information
• select appropriate strategies
• solve the problem
• check the reasonableness of their strategies

The activities will help pupils learn to apply maths skills across a range of problems. Each page has a focus, ranging from sports, shopping and jobs to cooking, travel and building – providing real-life problems for children to solve.

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