The four basic operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It is crucial that you can correctly identify the appropriate operation in the real-world scenarios presented in GED word problems.

• Addition: Putting together, or totaling, any sized groups of the same kinds of things. For example: 5 apples and 3 apples equals 8 apples. 5+3=8

• Subtraction:

  • Removing a group from a total. For example: Spending 5 out of 20 dollars leaves you with 15 dollars. 20-5=15

  • Finding the difference between two numbers. For example: If John is 25 and Marti is 32, Marti is 7 years older than John. 32-25=7

• Multiplication:

  • Putting together same sized groups to find a total. For example: Each student in a GED Class of 15 chips in $5 for pizza for a total of $75. 5(15)=75

  • Scaling the size of a group. For example: A recipe calls for 4 eggs. John plans to make a half batch, so he only needs 2 eggs. 4(1/2)=2

• Division: Breaking a total into same sized groups. For example: A 4 1/2 foot board is sawed into 3/4 foot segments, resulting in 6 segments. 4 1/2 divided by 3/4 = 6

Watch the Virtual GED Class video below for a complete explanation and tons of worked example problems. Print out these example problems to follow along with the video.