Word Problem: The Platypus Math Challenge!

What do you get when you cross a platypus and a long division problem?

A mathypus.

We know a platypus won't be looking for math help for kids, but a platypus can help teach math to kids when it comes in the form of a fun word problem like this one! Improve your elementary school math skills such as fractions, division, multiplication and more with this word problem challenge. Give it a try, take your time, and when you are ready look below to check your solution against ours. 

Question: A platypus eats 3/4 of a pound of worms each day. If a platypus has eaten 3 ounces of worms, what fractional part of its daily worm intake has it consumed? 

Solution: There are 16 ounces in a pound. Since the platypus eats 3/4 of a pound of worms each day, that means it eats 3/4 of 16 ounces = 12 ounces of worms each day. If the platypus has eaten 3 ounces so far, it has eaten 1/4 of its daily intake of worms because 3 is 1/4 of 12.