Max Maths, Year 4, Learn together, Word problems (1)

In the Max Maths Year 4 curriculum, students are encouraged to tackle word problems to enhance their mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills. One such problem invites the children to step into the shoes of a farmer who is busy planting banana and pineapple plants. The farmer has 395 banana plants and 854 pineapple plants, and the students' task is to calculate the total number of plants he has. To solve this, they are encouraged to use counting blocks as a visual aid, representing the numbers in ones and tens, and then combine these blocks to find the sum.

The problem is laid out clearly, showing the number 395 for banana plants and 854 for pineapple plants, with each digit in its correct place value column—ones, tens, hundreds, and even thousands. The solution involves a straightforward addition of the two numbers, combining the ones to make 9, the tens to make 14 (carrying over 1 to the hundreds), and the hundreds to make 12 after the carry over, resulting in a grand total of 1,249 plants. The visual representation of counting blocks helps students understand the concept of addition and place value, reinforcing their arithmetic skills. The conclusion is simple: the farmer plants a combined total of 1,249 banana and pineapple plants on his land.