Many students have difficulty with word problems. Sometimes they just look at the numbers without understanding what the problem is really asking. Always read a word problem carefully.
Jill swatted 5 flies in the kitchen, 7 flies in the bathroom, 12 flies in the livingroom, and 6 flies on the patio. How many flies did she swat in all?
5 + 7 + 12 + 6 = 30