3rd Grade Math Help: Drills, Answers, and Explanations

How Can I Help My 3rd Grader with Math?

If your child is struggling with 3rd grade math, you may want to tackle this problem right away. Since math is a cumulative subject, if your child doesn't know the foundational math concepts, then he or she will likely struggle with more advanced math. Fortunately, you can help your child by practicing at home using flashcards, worksheets and real-life situations.

In school, your 3rd grader will learn multiplication and division facts. Often, students are required to memorize these facts and take timed tests. Assist your child by creating flashcards. Every night, spend a few minutes quizzing your child. Repetition will help him or her internalize the material.

Another major concept that's covered in 3rd grade is fractions. Students learn that fractions represent the number of parts in a whole. Often, students use visuals, like drawings, cut-outs and counters, to understand such concepts. Tell your child to imagine a pie that's divided into four slices. If he eats one slice, then he eats 1/4 of the pie.

Practice Problems, Answers and Explanations

Multiplication

If your child has anxiety about timed multiplication fact tests, simulate them at home using problems like these. Make a quiet spot for your child at a table and ask your child's teacher how long he or she is allowed to complete the questions so that you can time the practice test.

1. 7 x 3 (answer: 21)

2. 4 x 5 (answer: 20)

3. 8 x 1 (answer: 8)

4. 10 x 2 (answer: 20)

5. 12 x 3 (answer: 36)

Word Problems

1. Sarah baked 20 cookies for herself and four friends. How many cookies does each person get?

Make sure your child doesn't forget about Sarah. There are five people in total who get cookies. For this problem, your child will use division: 20 ÷ 5 = 4, so each person gets four cookies.

2. Mark takes his dog on a 2-mile walk every day of the week. How many total miles does he walk in one week?

For this problem, your child will need to count the days in one week and then multiply 2 miles x 7 days. Mark and his dog walk 14 miles total in one week.

3. Brad has 2/10 of a pizza left. Melanie has 7/10 of a pizza. Who has more pizza?

If your child isn't sure, encourage him or her to use visuals to compare the numbers. Also, because the denominators are the same, point out that you can just compare the numerators. Ask your child, which is larger: 2 or 7?