Learn how to use arithmetic expressions in daily life with Class 7 Maths word problems, step-by-step solutions, examples, practice questions and diagrams.
Mathematics is not limited to numbers written in a notebook. We use arithmetic expressions in many everyday situations, such as calculating expenses, finding weekly supplies, planning reading schedules and solving problems involving distance or height.
In this lesson, we will learn how to convert everyday situations into arithmetic expressions and calculate their values.
We will use addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and brackets to solve these problems step by step.
An arithmetic expression is a combination of numbers and mathematical operations.
For example:
These expressions help us represent real-life situations mathematically.
Follow these simple steps:
Riya buys 4 notebooks. Each notebook costs ₹25. How much does she pay?
Step 1: Number of notebooks = 4
Step 2: Cost of one notebook = ₹25
Step 3: Write the expression.
[
4 \times 25
]
Step 4: Calculate.
[
4 \times 25 = 100
]
Answer: Riya pays ₹100.
Rahim supplies 9 kg of mangoes every day, while Shyam supplies 11 kg every day. The market operates all seven days of the week. Find their total weekly supply.
Solution:
Rahim’s daily supply = 9 kg
Shyam’s daily supply = 11 kg
Their combined daily supply:
[
9+11=20\text{ kg}
]
Weekly supply:
[
7\times(9+11)
]
[
=7\times20
]
[
=140\text{ kg}
]
Answer: They supply 140 kg of mangoes in one week.
Binu earns ₹20,000 per month. She spends ₹5,000 on rent, ₹5,000 on food and ₹2,000 on other expenses every month. Find her savings at the end of one year.
Solution:
Monthly income = ₹20,000
Total monthly expenses:
[
5000+5000+2000=12000
]
Monthly savings:
[
20000-(5000+5000+2000)
]
[
=20000-12000=8000
]
There are 12 months in a year.
Annual savings:
[
12\times8000=96000
]
Answer: Binu saves ₹96,000 in one year.
A snail climbs 3 cm during the daytime and slips down 2 cm during the night. The post is 10 cm high. How many days will the snail take to reach the top?
Solution:
Daytime climb = 3 cm
Nighttime slip = 2 cm
Net progress after a complete day and night:
[
3-2=1\text{ cm}
]
However, the snail does not slip down after reaching the top during the daytime.
Let’s calculate:
| Day | Height reached during day | Height after night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 cm | 1 cm |
| 2 | 4 cm | 2 cm |
| 3 | 5 cm | 3 cm |
| 4 | 6 cm | 4 cm |
| 5 | 7 cm | 5 cm |
| 6 | 8 cm | 6 cm |
| 7 | 9 cm | 7 cm |
| 8 | 10 cm | Reaches the top |
Answer: The snail reaches the top on the 8th day.
Important: Do not subtract the nighttime slip after the snail has already reached the top.
Melvin reads one two-page story every day except Tuesday and Saturday. How many stories will he read in 8 weeks?
Solution:
Days in one week = 7
Days when he does not read = 2
Reading days in one week:
[
7-2=5
]
Total weeks = 8
Number of stories:
[
5\times8=40
]
Answer: Melvin will read 40 stories in 8 weeks.
| Situation | Operation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Combining quantities | Addition | 15 + 20 |
| Finding what remains | Subtraction | 100 − 35 |
| Repeated equal groups | Multiplication | 5 × 12 |
| Sharing equally | Division | 60 ÷ 5 |
| Calculating a combined total before another operation | Brackets | 4 × (10 + 5) |
Brackets help us show which calculation should be performed together.
Consider this situation:
A student buys 3 pens for ₹10 each and 3 pencils for ₹5 each.
The total cost is:
[
3\times10+3\times5
]
[
=30+15=45
]
We can also write:
[
3\times(10+5)
]
[
=3\times15=45
]
Both expressions give the same answer.
Learning point: Brackets help us represent groups clearly and avoid confusion.
A school purchases 8 boxes of pencils. Each box contains 12 pencils. How many pencils does the school purchase?
Expression:
[
8\times12
]
Solution:
[
8\times12=96
]
Answer: 96 pencils.
Diagram description: Eight pencil boxes, each containing 12 pencils.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original Class 7 educational illustration showing 8 open pencil boxes arranged in two rows. Each box should contain exactly 12 pencils. Add the expression “8 × 12 = 96 pencils”. Use a clean white background, colourful school-themed objects, clear labels and a simple textbook illustration style. Do not add unrelated text.
A dairy supplies 18 litres of milk every day. How much milk does it supply in 7 days?
Expression:
[
18\times7
]
Solution:
[
18\times7=126
]
Answer: 126 litres.
Diagram description: Seven milk containers representing seven days, with 18 litres supplied each day.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original educational diagram showing seven labelled days from Monday to Sunday. Under each day, show a milk container labelled “18 litres”. At the bottom, write “18 × 7 = 126 litres”. Use a simple colourful school mathematics infographic style with accurate labels.
A student saves ₹35 every week. How much will the student save in 12 weeks?
Expression:
[
35\times12
]
Solution:
[
35\times12=420
]
Answer: ₹420.
Diagram description: Twelve weekly savings jars, each containing ₹35.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original Class 7 mathematics illustration showing 12 small savings jars arranged in three rows of four. Label each jar “₹35”. Show the calculation “12 × 35 = ₹420” clearly at the bottom. Use simple educational visuals and a white background.
A shopkeeper has 45 apples and 38 oranges. How many fruits does the shopkeeper have altogether?
Expression:
[
45+38
]
Solution:
[
45+38=83
]
Answer: 83 fruits.
Diagram description: A fruit basket with 45 apples and another basket with 38 oranges.
AI Image Prompt: Create an educational illustration showing two separate fruit baskets. The first basket represents 45 apples and the second represents 38 oranges. Clearly label both quantities and show “45 + 38 = 83 fruits”. Make the visual easy for a Class 7 student to understand.
A person has ₹500 and purchases a school bag for ₹275. How much money remains?
Expression:
[
500-275
]
Solution:
[
500-275=225
]
Answer: ₹225 remains.
Diagram description: A wallet containing ₹500, a school bag costing ₹275 and ₹225 remaining.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original educational diagram showing a wallet with ₹500, a school bag with a price tag of ₹275, and the remaining amount of ₹225. Display “500 − 275 = 225”. Use clear rupee symbols and simple school-level visuals.
There are 6 rows of benches in a classroom. Each row has 5 benches. How many benches are there altogether?
Expression:
[
6\times5
]
Solution:
[
6\times5=30
]
Answer: 30 benches.
Diagram description: Six rows of five benches each.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original classroom diagram showing exactly six horizontal rows with five benches in each row. Add the expression “6 × 5 = 30 benches”. Use a neat top-view arrangement, accurate counting and a clean educational illustration style.
A teacher has 72 chocolates and distributes them equally among 8 students. How many chocolates does each student receive?
Expression:
[
72\div8
]
Solution:
[
72\div8=9
]
Answer: Each student receives 9 chocolates.
Diagram description: Eight students receiving equal groups of nine chocolates.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original educational illustration showing eight students. Give each student exactly nine chocolates. Clearly show “72 ÷ 8 = 9 chocolates each”. Use a friendly classroom theme and ensure the number of students and chocolates is accurate.
A family pays ₹1,250 as its electricity bill every month. Find the total amount paid in 6 months.
Expression:
[
1250\times6
]
Solution:
[
1250\times6=7500
]
Answer: ₹7,500.
Diagram description: Six monthly electricity bills, each for ₹1,250.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original educational infographic showing six electricity bills labelled Month 1 to Month 6. Each bill should display ₹1,250. At the bottom, write “₹1,250 × 6 = ₹7,500”. Use a simple financial-literacy theme suitable for Class 7 students.
A school hires 4 buses for a trip. Each bus carries 42 students. How many students can travel in all four buses?
Expression:
[
4\times42
]
Solution:
[
4\times42=168
]
Answer: 168 students.
Diagram description: Four buses, each carrying 42 students.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original school-trip mathematics illustration showing four buses. Label each bus “42 students”. Show “4 × 42 = 168 students” clearly. Use a colourful educational style and avoid showing an incorrect number of buses.
A family purchases 3 packets of biscuits costing ₹20 each and 3 juice bottles costing ₹15 each. Find the total cost.
Expression:
[
3\times(20+15)
]
Solution:
First, calculate the cost of one biscuit packet and one juice bottle:
[
20+15=35
]
Now multiply by 3:
[
3\times35=105
]
Alternatively:
[
3\times20+3\times15
]
[
=60+45=105
]
Answer: The total cost is ₹105.
Diagram description: Three groups, each containing one biscuit packet and one juice bottle.
AI Image Prompt: Create an original educational diagram showing three identical shopping groups. Each group must contain one biscuit packet priced ₹20 and one juice bottle priced ₹15. Show “3 × (20 + 15) = ₹105” and “3 × 20 + 3 × 15 = ₹105”. Use clear price labels and an attractive Class 7 mathematics textbook style.
An arithmetic expression is a mathematical phrase made using numbers and operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
We use them to calculate expenses, savings, quantities, distances, time schedules and many other everyday situations.
Brackets show which parts of an expression should be calculated together and help avoid confusion.
Read the question, identify the given quantities, choose the correct operation, write an expression and solve it step by step.
Units explain what the answer represents. For example, money is written in rupees, weight in kilograms and length in centimetres.
Try solving these questions yourself.
Arithmetic expressions help us solve many practical problems in everyday life. By understanding the situation and choosing the correct mathematical operation, we can convert word problems into simple expressions.
Practise these examples regularly to improve your calculation skills and develop confidence in solving Class 7 Mathematics problems.
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