Mixed word problem: dividing by 10, 100 and 1000
22 October 2026
Mixed word problems often ask your child to use division with different numbers like 10, 100 or 1,000. These questions check if they understand place value and can spot what to do when the answer is not a whole number.
Worked example
A shop has 1,200 sweets. They want to pack them in boxes of 10, 100 and 1,000 sweets each. How many boxes do they need for each size?
Step 1: 1,200 ÷ 10 = 120. So they need 120 boxes if each box holds 10 sweets.
Step 2: 1,200 ÷ 100 = 12. So they need 12 boxes if each box holds 100 sweets.
Step 3: 1,200 ÷ 1,000 = 1.2. You cannot have part of a box, so they need 2 boxes for 1,000 sweets each.
The answers are: 120 boxes (10 sweets each), 12 boxes (100 sweets each), and 2 boxes (1,000 sweets each).
Key insight: When dividing by 10, 100 or 1,000, move the digits right in the place value columns. If you get a decimal, round up if you need whole boxes.
| Box size | Number of boxes |
|---|---|
| 10 sweets | 120 |
| 100 sweets | 12 |
| 1,000 sweets | 2 |
After working through this example, your child will see how dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000 changes the answer each time. They will be ready to try similar mixed word problems and spot when to round up if a whole number is needed.
