Introduction
This stickers total question is a good PSLE-style word problem because it combines total, before-after change, and comparison in one question. Many students get confused because the total is given at first, but the “4 times as many” relationship happens after Tim gives away some stickers. Once we organise the information properly, this stickers total question becomes much easier to solve.
The Question / Scenario Explanation
Source: P4 HENRY PARK 2018 Term 1
Sally and Tim had a total of \(1440\) stickers at first. After Tim had given away \(35\) stickers, Sally had \(4\) times as many stickers as Tim. How many stickers did Sally have?
Step-by-Step Solution / Explanation
Step 1: Find the new total after Tim gave away 35 stickers
At first, Sally and Tim had \(1440\) stickers altogether.
After Tim gave away \(35\) stickers, the total number of stickers became:
\(1440 – 35 = 1405\)
So after the change, Sally and Tim had \(1405\) stickers altogether.
Step 2: Write the ratio after Tim gave away the stickers
After Tim gave away \(35\) stickers, Sally had \(4\) times as many stickers as Tim.
So we can represent:
Sally \(= 4u\)
Tim \(= 1u\)
Total after the change:
\(4u + 1u = 5u\)
This is the key setup for solving the stickers total question.
Step 3: Find the value of 1 unit
We know that \(5u = 1405\).
So:
\(1u = 1405 \div 5 = 281\)
So Tim had \(281\) stickers after giving away \(35\) stickers.
Step 4: Find how many stickers Sally had
Sally had \(4u\), so:
\(4u = 4 \times 281 = 1124\)
✅ Final Answer: \(1124\) stickers
Step 5: Quick check
If Tim had \(281\) stickers after giving away \(35\), then before giving away, Tim had:
\(281 + 35 = 316\)
Add Sally’s stickers:
\(1124 + 316 = 1440\) ✅
This matches the original total, so the stickers total question is solved correctly.
Key Concepts Students Must Know
- In a stickers total question, always check whether the total is given before or after a change happens.
- Words like “after” are very important because they tell you when the comparison applies.
- If one person has \(4\) times as many as another person, you can use the units method: \(4u : 1u\).
- Before-after word problems often need subtraction first, then units or ratio.
Exam Tips / Common Mistakes
Exam Tips
- Underline the words “at first” and “after Tim had given away 35 stickers”.
- Adjust the total before using the \(4\) times relationship.
- For this stickers total question, use subtraction first, then units method.
- Always check whether your final answer matches both the total and the comparison statement.
Common Mistakes
- Using \(1440\) directly as the total for the \(4u : 1u\) ratio.
- Forgetting to subtract the \(35\) stickers that Tim gave away.
- Finding Tim’s \(1u = 281\) correctly, but forgetting that Sally is \(4u\), not \(1u\).
- Checking only the ratio but not checking the original total of \(1440\).
Parent Insight
This stickers total question is a strong example of why careful reading matters in upper primary Maths. Many students can calculate well, but lose marks because they miss time words like “at first” and “after”. Questions like this train children to slow down, organise information clearly, and connect totals with comparison statements more confidently.
Conclusion
To solve this stickers total question, we first found the new total after Tim gave away \(35\) stickers: \(1440 – 35 = 1405\). Then we used the ratio \(4u : 1u\), so \(5u = 1405\) and \(1u = 281\). Since Sally had \(4u\), she had \(1124\) stickers.
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