Math Equations for 3rd Graders: Download Free Worksheets Pdf

Before we dive into the free worksheets, let's review some tips and tricks on how to solve basic math equations. Here are some things to keep in mind when teaching your 3rd grader how to solve equations:

• Solving an equation aims to find the variable’s value that makes the equation true. A variable is a letter or symbol that represents an unknown quantity.

  For example, in the equation x + 5 = 10, x is the variable we want to find.

• To solve an equation, we need to use the inverse operation of the operation that is applied to the variable.

  For example, if the variable is added by a number, we need to subtract that number from both sides of the equation. If the variable is multiplied by a number, we need to divide that number from both sides of the equation.

• To check our solution, we need to plug it back into the equation and see if it makes the equation true.

  For example, if we find that x = 5 in the equation x + 5 = 10, we can check by substituting x with 5 and see if it gives us 10 on both sides.

• To solve word problems involving equations, we need to translate the words into mathematical expressions using keywords and symbols.

  For example, if the problem says, "The sum of a number and five is ten,” we can write it as x + 5 = 10.

Now that we have reviewed some tips and tricks on how to solve basic math equations let's look at some free worksheets that you can download and print for your 3rd grader. These worksheets cover different types of equations that your child will encounter in their math curriculum. They also include answer keys and explanations for each problem.

Here are the worksheets that you can access:

• Point out equation expressions: is a problem an equation or not?

  This worksheet helps your child identify which expressions are equations or not. It also helps them understand the difference between equal and inequality signs.

• One-step equations: addition and subtraction

  This worksheet helps your child practice solving one-step equations involving addition and subtraction. It also helps them apply the inverse operation rule and check their solutions.

• One-step equations: multiplication and division

  This worksheet helps your child practice solving one-step equations involving multiplication and division. It also helps them apply the inverse operation rule and check their solutions.

• Solving for the variable: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

  This worksheet helps your child practice solving for the variable in different types of equations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It also helps them use different strategies and methods to find solutions.

• Writing equations from word problems: addition and subtraction

  This worksheet helps your child practice writing equations from word problems involving addition and subtraction. It also helps them translate words into mathematical expressions using keywords and symbols.

• Writing equations from word problems: multiplication and division

  This worksheet helps your child practice writing equations from word problems involving multiplication and division. It also helps them translate words into mathematical expressions using keywords and symbols.

In this section, we will show you some examples of how to solve math equations problems for 3rd graders. We will also explain the steps and strategies we used to find the answers. You can use these examples as models to help you with your own worksheets.

Example 1: Solve for x: x + 7 = 12

• To solve this equation, we need to find the value of x that makes the equation true. We can do this by using the inverse operation of addition, which is subtraction. We subtract 7 from both sides of the equation to isolate x:

  x + 7 - 7 = 12 - 7

  x = 5

• The answer is x = 5. We can check our answer by plugging it back into the equation and seeing if it makes sense:

  5 + 7 = 12

  12 = 12

  Yes, it makes sense. So, x = 5 is the correct solution.

Example 2: Solve for y: 4y = 20

• To solve this equation, we need to find the value of y that makes the equation true. We can do this by using the inverse operation of multiplication, which is division. We divide both sides of the equation by 4 to isolate y:

  4y / 4 = 20 / 4

  y = 5

• The answer is y = 5. We can check our answer by plugging it back into the equation and seeing if it makes sense:

  4 x 5 = 20

  20 = 20

  Yes, it makes sense. So, y = 5 is the correct solution.

Example 3: Write an equation from this word problem and solve it: Sam has 8 apples. He gives some apples to his friend Tom. Now he has 3 apples left. How many apples did he give to Tom?

• To write an equation from this word problem, we must identify and assign a variable to the unknown quantity. In this case, the unknown quantity is how many apples Sam gave to Tom. We can use x to represent this variable.
• Next, we must write an equation relating the variable to the given information. In this case, we know that Sam started with 8 apples and ended with 3 apples. The difference between these two numbers is how many apples he gave away. So, we can write an equation like this:

  8 - x = 3

• Now, we can solve this equation by using the inverse operation of subtraction, which is addition. We add x to both sides of the equation to isolate x:

  8 - x + x = 3 + x

  8 = 3 + x

• Then, we subtract 3 from both sides of the equation to find x:

  8 - 3 = 3 + x - 3

  5 = x

  The answer is x = 5. We can check our answer by plugging it back into the word problem and seeing if it makes sense:

  Sam has 8 apples. He gives some apples (5) to his friend Tom. Now he has 3 apples left.

  Yes, it makes sense. So, x = 5 is the correct solution.

Solving math equations can be fun if you try some of these activities at home with your family or friends:

• Make your own math equations flashcards using index cards or paper. Write an equation on one side and the answer on the other side. Shuffle the cards and quiz yourself or someone else.
• Play math equations bingo using a bingo card with different equations on it. You can make your own bingo card or print one online. Use a dice or a spinner to generate random numbers and plug them into the equations. Mark off the equations that match the answers you get.
• Create your own math equations board game using a poster board or cardboard. Draw a path with different spaces on it. Write different equations on some of the spaces and leave some blank. Use a dice or a spinner to move along the path. If you land on an equation space, you must solve it correctly to stay there. If you land on a blank space, you must make up your own equation and solve it.
• Have a math equations scavenger hunt around your house or neighborhood. Write different equations on pieces of paper and hide them in different places. Give clues or hints to help someone find them. When they find an equation, they have to solve it before moving on to the next one.