5. Ali has 21 children in her class this year. Last year she had
   12 more children in her class. How many children were in
   Ali’s class last year?

Last year, Ali had a grand total of 33 children in her class! You’d find this by simply adding the current number of children, which is 21, to the 12 extra children she had last year. It’s a straightforward math problem, but considering how lively a class of 33 kids can be, it’s no wonder she’s got her hands full!

If you’re ever unsure about math problems like this, just remember the importance of breaking down the question. Always look for keywords and think about what operations you’ll need to use—addition in this case! It’s one of those little tricks that can help avoid common mistakes.