5th Grade Math Bee: Sample Questions with Answer Key

What Is a Math Bee?

A math bee is a competition that provides children with a fun way to improve their mathematical speed and accuracy. Questions for a math bee are created using the four basic math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Use the questions and answers below to help prepare your 5th grader for a math bee.

Sample Math Bee Questions

1. If six notebooks cost 84 cents, what would the cost be for 48 notebooks?

2. What is the closest estimate for 9,241 ÷ 12?

3. There are 4,286 people on board a ship. Of the passengers, 2,104 were men and 1,687 were women. How many of the passengers were children?

4. Tom drives a truck and gets paid 60 cents per mile. If he drove 18 hours at an average speed of 56 miles per hour, how much money did he earn on his trip?

5. James had 2,150 football cards. He sold 1/2 of his cards and then gave away 2/5 of the remaining cards. How many cards does James have now?

Answers and Explanations

1. Since the notebooks are being purchased in groups of six, eight groups of notebooks will be purchased (6 x 8 = 48). Then, your child should multiply: 0.84 x 8 = $6.72, which is the total cost of the 48 notebooks.

2. To solve this, your child should estimate and divide: 9,000/10 = 900.

3. To determine the number of children aboard the ship, your child could first add the number of adult men and women: 2,104 + 1,687 = 3,791. Then, she should subtract the number of adults from the total number of passengers: 4,286 - 3,791 = 495. So, there are 495 children on the ship.

4. Your child should first calculate the number of miles driven by multiplying: 56 x 18 = 1,008 miles. Tom gets paid 60 cents per mile, so to figure the amount of money earned, your child should multiply: 1,008 x .60 = $604.80.

5. To determine the number of football cards sold, your child should divide: 2,150 ÷ 2 = 1,075. To calculate the number of cards James gave away, convert 2/5 to a decimal, which would be 0.4, and multiply: 1,075 x 0.4 = 430. To arrive at the final answer, your child should subtract: 1,075 - 430 = 645, which is the number of cards James has left.