How to explain addition sentences for word problems - up to three digits in word problems to your student: Example question
30 October 2026
When your child faces a word problem with numbers up to three digits, it helps to show them how to turn the story into an addition sentence. This makes it easier to see what calculation is needed before working out the answer.
Question:
Ben has 162 marbles. He finds 249 more marbles. How many marbles does Ben have now?
Step 1: Write the numbers as an addition sentence.
162 + 249 =?
Step 2: Add the ones digits.
2 + 9 = 11. Write 1 in the ones place and carry over 1 to the tens place.
Step 3: Add the tens digits plus the carried over 1.
6 + 4 + 1 = 11. Write 1 in the tens place and carry over 1 to the hundreds place.
Step 4: Add the hundreds digits plus the carried over 1.
1 + 2 + 1 = 4. Write 4 in the hundreds place.
162 + 249 = 411
Answer: Ben has 411 marbles now.
After following these steps, your child will recognise how to write and solve addition sentences for word problems with up to three digits. They can now try similar questions to build confidence with this type of maths problem.
