40 6th Grade Word Problems

Test your knowledge of 6th grade math with these 40 word problems covering fractions, decimals, ratios, and percentages.

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Author

Tess Loucka

Published:

Nov 2025

Key takeaways

Math is a study of how the world works. It is not simply numbers on a page.

From careers in construction, science, and health to artistic pursuits like graphic design or architecture, math is essential to how we interact with the world around us.

To help 6th graders understand math in a real-world context, use 6th grade word problems. Word problems place mathematical concepts into realistic scenarios, improving not only students’ math skills, but their reasoning and problem-solving skills, too.

Here are 40 6th grade word problems you can use to set yourself up for math class success.

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10 Fraction Word Problems

Take a look at these 6th grade fraction word problems.

1. What is 3/4 divided by 1/4?

Answer
3 because 3/4 ÷ 1/4 = 3/4 × 4/1 = 12/4 = 3.

2. How many 2/5 portions can be made out of 2 pies?

Answer
5 because 2 ÷ 2/5 = 2/1 × 5/2 = 10/2 = 5.

3. A block of chocolate weighs 3½ pounds. How many ½ pound portions can be made from it?

Answer
7 because 3½ = 7/2 and 7/2 ÷ ½ = 7/2 × 2/1 = 14/2 = 7.

4. A balloon 540 feet in the air falls at a rate of 23⅓ feet per minute. How long will it take for it to reach the ground? Round to the nearest hundredth.

Answer
23.14 minutes because 23⅓ = 70/3 and 540 ÷ 70/3 = 540/1 × 3/70 = 1,620/70 = 23.14.

5. The product of 5/3 and a number is equal to 10. What is the missing number?

Answer
6 because 10 ÷ 5/3 = 10/1 × 3/5 = 30/5 = 6.

6. Joey drinks 3/5 of a 300 milliliter bottle of juice. How many milliliters of juice are left?

Answer
120 milliliters because 5/5 – 3/5 = 2/5 and 2/5 × 300/1 = 600/5 = 120.

7. If 3/7 of a 56-student class is male, how many students are female?

Answer
32 students because 7/7 – 3/7 = 4/7 and 4/7 × 56/1 = 224/7 = 32.

8. Casey got 1⅘ pounds of candy, and Nick got 2½ pounds. How much more candy did Nick get?

Answer
7/10 pounds more because 2½ – 1⅘ = 5/2 – 9/5 = 25/10 – 18/10 = 7/10.

9. If 3 friends evenly share 4/6 of a pumpkin pie, how much of the pie will each get?

Answer
2/9 of the pie because 4/6 ÷ 3 = 4/6 × 1/3 = 4/18 = 2/9.

10. A cupcake recipe calls for 1½ cups of cocoa powder. If June halves the recipe, how much cocoa powder should she use?

Answer
¾ cup because 1½ × ½ = 3/2 × 1/2 = ¾.

10 Decimal Word Problems

These 6th grade decimal word problems test your knowledge of multiplying and dividing with decimal place values.

1. If four 4.25-foot pieces are cut from a 20-foot piece of wood, how much wood will remain?

Answer
3 feet of wood because 4.25 × 4 = 17 and 20 – 17 = 3.

2. If 8 gallons of gas cost $54.48, how much did each gallon cost?

Answer
$6.81 because 54.48 ÷ 8 = 6.81.

3. Jessica’s bank account has $1,836.49 in it. After she deposits $289.50 and withdraws $63.20, how much is left in the account?

Answer
$2,062.79 because 1,836.49 + 289.50 = 2,125.99 and 2,125.99 – 63.20 = 2,062.79.

4. If apples cost $0.45 each, lemons cost $0.89 each, and pears cost $1.07 each, how much does 3 apples, 6 lemons, and 2 pears cost?

Answer
$8.83 because 0.45 × 3 = 1.35; 0.89 × 6 = 5.34; 1.07 × 2 = 2.14; 1.35 + 5.34 + 2.14 = 8.83.

5. If Johnny studied 7.8 hours in total over 6 days, around how much time did he study each day?

Answer
1.3 hours because 7.8 ÷ 6 = 1.3.

6. Shirley earns $17.50 per hour and works 8 hours a day. How much will she earn after 5 days?

Answer
$700 because 17.50 × 8 = 140 and 140 × 5 = 700.

7. A company earned $20,586 after 7 days. Around how much did the company earn per day? Round to the nearest hundredth.

Answer
About $2,940.86 because 20,586 ÷ 7 = 2,940.857, which rounds to 2,940.86.

8. A garden measures 9.45 feet long and 12.15 feet wide. What is the area of the garden? Round to the nearest hundredth.

Answer
114.82 square feet because 9.45 × 12.15 = 114.817, which rounds to 114.82.

9. Marge can run 1.4 miles in 20 minutes. How far can she run in 1 hour?

Answer
4.2 miles because 60 ÷ 20 = 3, and 1.4 × 3 = 4.2.

10. How many portions of 0.7 meters can 4.5 meters be split into? Round to the nearest thousandth.

Answer
6.429 because 4.5 ÷ 0.7 = 6.4285, which rounds to 6.429.

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10 Ratio Word Problems

Here are 10 ratio word problems 6th grade students should know how to solve.

1. If four 4.25-foot pieces are cut from a 20-foot piece of wood, how much wood will remain?

Answer
3 feet of wood because 4.25 × 4 = 17 and 20 – 17 = 3.

2. If 8 gallons of gas cost $54.48, how much did each gallon cost?

Answer
$6.81 because 54.48 ÷ 8 = 6.81.

3. Jessica’s bank account has $1,836.49 in it. After she deposits $289.50 and withdraws $63.20, how much is left in the account?

Answer
$2,062.79 because 1,836.49 + 289.50 = 2,125.99 and 2,125.99 – 63.20 = 2,062.79.

4. If apples cost $0.45 each, lemons cost $0.89 each, and pears cost $1.07 each, how much does 3 apples, 6 lemons, and 2 pears cost?

Answer
$8.83 because 0.45 × 3 = 1.35; 0.89 × 6 = 5.34; 1.07 × 2 = 2.14; 1.35 + 5.34 + 2.14 = 8.83.

5. If Johnny studied 7.8 hours in total over 6 days, around how much time did he study each day?

Answer
1.3 hours because 7.8 ÷ 6 = 1.3.

6. Shirley earns $17.50 per hour and works 8 hours a day. How much will she earn after 5 days?

Answer
$700 because 17.50 × 8 = 140 and 140 × 5 = 700.

7. A company earned $20,586 after 7 days. Around how much did the company earn per day? Round to the nearest hundredth.

Answer
About $2,940.86 because 20,586 ÷ 7 = 2,940.857, which rounds to 2,940.86.

8. A garden measures 9.45 feet long and 12.15 feet wide. What is the area of the garden? Round to the nearest hundredth.

Answer
114.82 square feet because 9.45 × 12.15 = 114.817, which rounds to 114.82.

9. Marge can run 1.4 miles in 20 minutes. How far can she run in 1 hour?

Answer
4.2 miles because 60 ÷ 20 = 3, and 1.4 × 3 = 4.2.

10. How many portions of 0.7 meters can 4.5 meters be split into? Round to the nearest thousandth.

Answer
6.429 because 4.5 ÷ 0.7 = 6.4285, which rounds to 6.429.

10 Percentage Word Problems

These are 10 percent word problems 6th grade students should know how to solve.

1. If 30% of a 30-student class are boys, how many students are boys?

Answer
9 because 30/100 × 30 = 900/100 = 9.

2. A $45 shirt is on sale for 25% off. How much does the shirt cost?

Answer
$33.75 because 25/100 × 45 = 11.25, and 45 – 11.25 = 33.75.

3. Kareem must dedicate 15% of his earnings to taxes. If he earns $450, how much money will go to taxes?

Answer
$67.50 because 15/100 × 450 = 6,750/100 = 67.50.

4. Mary earns $150 every day. She saves 10% of her earnings. How much will Mary save in 12 days?

Answer
$180 because 10/100 × 150 = 15, and 15 × 12 = 180.

5. A house bought for $670,000 sold for 13% less than its original value. How much did the house sell for?

Answer
$582,900 because 13/100 × 670,000 = 87,100, and 670,000 – 87,100 = 582,900.

6. If a laptop originally cost $1,050 but is currently on sale for 20% off, and you get an additional 10% off with a coupon, what is the new price of the laptop?

Answer
$756 because 20% of 1,050 = 210; 1,050 – 210 = 840; 10% of 840 = 84; 840 – 84 = 756.

7. A $25 book is on sale for 60% off. How much money can you save with this discount?

Answer
$15 because 60/100 × 25 = 15.

8. If a box of chocolate usually costs $24.49 and you get it for 15% off, how much will you spend?

Answer
$20.82 because 15/100 × 24.49 = 3.6735, and 24.49 – 3.6735 = 20.8165, which rounds to 20.82.

9. What is 30% of $160?

Answer
$48 because 30/100 × 160 = 48.

10. If 28 out of 350 apples are rotten, what percent of them are rotten?

Answer
8% because 28/350 × 100 = 8.

Want to try more practice problems? The more you practice, the easier they’ll get. You can find practice problems, along with answers and explanations, on online math apps, workbooks, and math programs.

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About the Author

Tess Loucka

Tess Loucka discovered her passion for writing in high school and has not stopped writing since. Combined with her love of numbers, she became a math and English tutor, focusing on middle- and high-school-level topics. Since graduating from Hunter College, her goal has been to use her writing to spread knowledge and the joy of learning to readers of all ages.