Learning Math Online
Singapore 6th Grade Math: Lesson 4
Whole Numbers

Learning math online is fun at Homeschooling Paradise. We have free math lessons and interactive math problems for you based on the popular Singapore Maths curriculum.

If you are new here, please visit our Main Math Page to learn how to use our free math website. If you are here for your 6th Grade Math Lesson 4, you will find it below.

Math Problem 4: Hungry Monster

I was walking through a forest last night when suddenly I heard some eerie chomping noises. I crept slowly towards the source of the noise and gasped in shock for there was a strange creature having its dinner. Its dinner plate was filled with 408 wriggling leeches, earthworms and maggots. There were 36 more earthworms than leeches, and twice as many maggots as earthworms. How many maggots were on the plate?

Let's Solve It!

Let's draw the bar for the leeches first.

Next, let's draw the bar for the earthworms. There are 36 more earthworms than leeches.

Now we shall draw the bar for the maggots. There are twice as many maggots as earthworms.

And finally, let's write down the total number of gross creepy-crawlies on the creature's dinner plate. This is how your final diagram will look like.

Now let's do some calculations. There are a few ways of solving this problem. I will show you 2 ways.

The Slow But Steady Way
How to Solve the Problem in Small Simple Steps

Look at the numbers I have highlighted in the diagram below. Since there are 3 of them: 36 x 3 = 108

Note: You don't have to highlight your own diagram when you are drawing it.

You will notice that when I deduct 108 from 408, I will get the total value of the 4 units which I have highlighted in yellow in the next diagram.

Value of 4 units: 408 - 108 = 300

We know the total value of 4 units. So what is the value of each unit?

Value of each unit: 300 ÷ 4 units = 75

The question asks for the total number of maggots.

We could just add up the numbers in the bar:

75 + 75 + 36 + 36 = 222

Or we could calculate it this way:

(75 + 36) x 2 = 222

Or even this way:

(75 x 2) + (36 x 2) = 222

Your answer is 222 whichever way you do it. Easy, isn't it?

The Fast Way

You should learn how to solve the problem this way eventually.

Total number of maggots: (75 x 2 units) + (36 x 2) = 222

The answer is again 222.

Learning math online is fun at Homeschooling Paradise. Now it's your turn to solve 3 Interactive Math Problems.

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