Challenge your arithmetic reasoning skills with engaging word-based logic problems. This quiz features beginner-friendly math scenarios to help improve basic arithmetic, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities for daily situations.
If each notebook costs $3 and John buys 4 notebooks, how much does he pay in total?
Explanation: Multiplying the price of one notebook ($3) by the quantity (4) gives $3 x 4 = $12, so the total is $12. $7 and $9 are results from adding or only partially multiplying, while $16 is from $4 x 4, which is not the price of a notebook. Only $12 matches the correct calculation.
Mary had 15 candies and gave 6 away to her friend. How many candies does she have left?
Explanation: Subtracting the candies given away (6) from the original amount (15) leads to 15 - 6 = 9. Option 21 mistakenly adds instead of subtracts, 6 reflects the number given away not remaining, and 8 may result from subtracting a different number. 9 is the accurate result.
If a movie starts at 5:00 PM and lasts for 2 hours, at what time does it end?
Explanation: Adding 2 hours to the starting time (5:00 PM) results in an ending time of 7:00 PM. 6:00 PM is only one hour later; 8:00 PM is three hours later; and 5:30 PM does not account for the duration. 7:00 PM is the correct answer based on time addition.
Four friends share 20 cookies equally. How many cookies does each friend get?
Explanation: Dividing 20 cookies by 4 friends gives 20 ÷ 4 = 5 cookies per person. Option 6 is what you get if you subtract one from the number of cookies per person; 4 is the number of friends itself, and 8 is from an incorrect doubling. Only 5 represents the equal share.
Anna buys an ice cream for $5 and pays with a $10 bill. How much change should she get back?
Explanation: The change is found by subtracting the cost ($5) from the amount paid ($10), so $10 - $5 = $5. $10 is the amount given, not the change. $6 results from a mistaken addition, and $15 adds the values instead. $5 is the correct amount Anna receives as change.
Each box holds 8 apples. How many apples are in 3 boxes?
Explanation: Multiplying the number of apples per box (8) by the number of boxes (3) gives 8 x 3 = 24 apples. 16 comes from multiplying 8 by 2, not 3. 11 is from adding small numbers, and 18 may come from confusing multiplication with addition. 24 is the only correct total.
Lucy buys a pen for $2 and a pencil for $1. How much does she spend in total?
Explanation: Adding the costs of the pen ($2) and pencil ($1) results in $2 + $1 = $3. $2 only accounts for the pen, $1 only for the pencil, and $4 is what you get if you add an extra dollar. $3 correctly represents the sum of both items.
What number comes next in the sequence: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___?
Explanation: The sequence increases by 2 each time, so after 8, the next number is 8 + 2 = 10. 12 skips a number ahead; 9 increments by 1 instead of 2; 7 does not fit the pattern. 10 correctly extends the sequence.
If Peter earns $5 per hour and works for 2 hours, how much does he earn?
Explanation: $5 per hour for 2 hours means $5 x 2 = $10. $7 could result from adding 5 and 2 instead of multiplying; $12 is likely from a miscalculation with hours or rates; $2 is just the number of hours, not earnings. $10 is the correct answer.
Sarah has 8 apples and Tom has 5 apples. How many more apples does Sarah have than Tom?
Explanation: Subtracting the number Tom has (5) from Sarah's total (8) gives 8 - 5 = 3 apples more. 2 results from a quick subtraction error, 13 is the combined total of their apples, and 5 simply repeats Tom's count. 3 is the correct difference.