Add three or more numbers up to three digits – word problems

Key notes

✨ Key Points

1. Addition means putting numbers together to find the total.

2. We can add more than two numbers at the same time.

3. When adding three or more numbers:

  • Write them in columns (Hundreds, Tens, Ones).
  • Add from the Ones place → Tens place → Hundreds place.
  • Carry over if needed.

4. Always read the word problem carefully and pick the numbers that need to be added.

5. Check your answer to see if it makes sense.

📝 Example Word Problems

Example 1:
Ravi has 125 marbles. His friend gave him 142 marbles and his brother gave him 213 marbles.
👉 How many marbles does Ravi have in total?

  • Solution:
  • 125 + 142 + 213 = 480
  • ✅ Ravi has 480 marbles.

Example 2:
A shopkeeper sold 234 pencils on Monday, 156 pencils on Tuesday, and 105 pencils on Wednesday.
👉 How many pencils did he sell in total?

  • Solution:
  • 234 + 156 + 105 = 495
  • ✅ He sold 495 pencils in total.

Example 3:
A farmer harvested 312 apples, 225 oranges, and 143 mangoes.
👉 How many fruits did he harvest altogether?

  • Solution:
  • 312 + 225 + 143 = 680
  • ✅ The farmer harvested 680 fruits.
✍️ Practice Questions (For Students)
  • Ramu collected 245 shells, his sister collected 132 shells, and his friend collected 211 shells. How many shells did they collect together?
  • A library has 156 storybooks, 278 science books, and 134 math books. How many books are there in the library?
  • A school has 124 boys in Grade 3, 132 boys in Grade 4, and 141 boys in Grade 5. How many boys are there in total?
  • A fruit seller sold 215 bananas, 185 apples, and 140 pears. How many fruits did he sell?
  • A truck carried 135 kg of rice, 218 kg of wheat, and 147 kg of sugar. What is the total weight?

Learn with an example

A men’s clothing store ordered some winter jumpers to sell. They ordered 55 red jumpers, 593 green jumpers, and 5 blue jumpers. How many winter jumpers did the store order in all?

​_____ jumpers

Add the numbers of jumpers.

Add the ones. Add 5 + 3 + 5. Remember to carry over.

Add the tens. Add 1 + 5 + 9. Remember to carry over.

Add the hundreds. Add 1 + 5.

The sum is 653.

The store ordered 653 winter jumpers in all.Add the ones. Add 5 + 3 + 5. Remember to carry over.

In the classroom supply cabinet there are 3 sheets of white paper, 36 sheets of yellow paper, and 471 sheets of blue paper. How many sheets of paper are there in all?

​_____ sheets of paper

Add the numbers of sheets of paper.

Add the ones. Add 3 + 6 + 1. Remember to carry over.

Add the tens. Add 1 + 3 + 7. Remember to carry over.

Add the hundreds. Add 1 + 4.

The sum is 510.

There are 510 sheets of paper in all.

Let’s practice!