Paste your word problem below. The tool identifies what type of problem it is, shows you how to set it up, and walks you through the solution.
Try an example problem:
Type your problem in plain English with the numbers included. The tool reads the keywords (like "older", "ratio", "speed", "percent") to identify the type and apply the right method.
Your step-by-step solution will appear here. The tool will identify the problem type, show you how to translate the words into an equation, and walk you through every step.
Our tool handles the most common word problem types that appear in Class 6 through O Level exams.
Find someone's current, past, or future age using statements like "twice as old", "10 years ago", or "in 5 years will be". Set up x = unknown age, then form an equation.
Split a total amount according to a given ratio. Find one "part" by dividing the total by the sum of the ratio, then multiply each ratio number by that part.
Use v = d ÷ t and its rearrangements to find speed, distance, or time from a word problem. Watch your units — km/h vs m/s makes a huge difference.
Calculate percentages of amounts, find percentage increase or decrease, or work out discounts and profits. Master this topic and you are set for both maths and everyday life.
Use SI = (P × R × T) ÷ 100. A classic topic for O Level maths and very common in financial literacy questions. Learn to find P, R, or T when the others are given.
Find the mean of a set of numbers, or find a missing value when the mean is already given. Average = Sum ÷ Count. Rearrange to find what you need.
Translate word clues like "double", "triple", "added to", and "exceeds by" into algebraic expressions, form an equation, and solve for the unknown number.
Word problems trip up students not because the maths is hard — but because translating words into numbers feels unfamiliar. Here is a system that works for every word problem you will ever see.
Good mathematics teachers teach a system called RUDE: Read, Underline, Define, Execute. Here is what each step means.
Read the problem all the way through without writing anything down. Your goal in this first pass is just to understand what is happening. Is it about money? Ages? Distances? Get the big picture before you focus on numbers.
Go through the problem again and underline every number and every keyword. Keywords like "total", "difference", "product", "older than", "ratio", and "percent" each point to a specific mathematical operation.
Write "Let x = ..." before you start calculating. This single habit eliminates most word-problem errors. Once you define x, express every other unknown in terms of x. For two unknowns, express the second one in terms of the first.
Use your underlined information and your defined variable to write an equation. Solve it step by step — do not rush. Show every line of working, because examiners award marks for each correct step, not just the final answer.
Common translation mistakes: "Less than" reverses the order — "5 less than x" means x − 5, not 5 − x. "Exceeds by" means the first number is bigger: "A exceeds B by 7" means A − B = 7, so A = B + 7. Watch these carefully.
Memorise this translation table and word problems become much less intimidating:
Practice habit: After solving a word problem, always re-read every sentence in the original problem and check that your answer satisfies every condition — not just the last one. Students often solve for x correctly but answer the wrong question.