Word Problems with Area

Kim and Nico’s parents are planning a surprise camping trip. The kids have to guess the items that need to be packed for the trip. See if you can identify what items they need to bring and the area of each item.

The parents have riddles to help the kids find the items to pack. The first clue says I am 4 feet wide and 8 feet long. I am used for sleeping, comfort, and warmth. What am I? What is the area of this item?

Nico explains that there is a strategy to help us solve this problem. To help solve the riddle, circle the key words, put a box around the important numbers, and draw a picture to see what it would look like.

The key word is area, and the important numbers are 8 feet and 4 feet. Kim knows how to find the area of a rectangle. You multiply the length by the width. The space is measured in square units. So, 8 feet times 4 feet equals 32 square feet. Kim shouts out excitedly, “It’s a sleeping bag!”

Kim reads the next clue. I am 10 inches in length on all sides. I hold things that can help when you are injured. What am I? What is the measurement of the area of the object’s lid?

Nico thinks the question is easy. The object has a lid that has the same length and width, 10 inches times 10 inches equals 100 square inches. He guesses that it is a first aid kit.

Kim reads the third clue. “I am something that gives you shelter and has a floor space with a length of 5 meters and a width of 3 meters. What am I? What is the area of the object?"

This is so much fun! Well, we find the area by multiplying 5 meters by 3 meters. The area is 15 square meters. Both kids shout out “It’s a tent! A tent gives you shelter.”

Nico, Kim, and their parents are going tent camping! Multiplying to find the area and solve the clues was so much fun!