Addition and subtraction word problems

Learn with an example

🦚Ed washed a total of 18 large and small plates after dinner. He finished washing the 9 large plates first. How many small plates did he have to wash?

​________plates

Subtract the number of large plates washed from the total number of plates.

Subtract:

18− 9=________

You can count backwards to subtract. Start from 18 and count back 9.

18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9

18− 9=9
  • The difference is 9. Ed had to wash 9 small plates.

🦚Lisa goes on holiday to the Czech Republic. She sends 2 postcards to friends and 8 postcards to family members. How many postcards does she send in all?

​________postcards

Add the numbers of postcards.

Add:

2+ 8=________

You can count up to add. It is easier to start with the larger number. Start from 8 and count up 2:

8, 9, 10

2+ 8=10
  • The sum is 10. In all, Lisa sends 10 postcards.

🦚Penguins at the zoo are fed two times a day. One of the penguins ate a total of 12 fish yesterday. During his morning feeding he ate 5 fish. How many fish did he eat in his afternoon feeding?

​
________fish

Subtract the number of fish eaten in the morning from the total number of fish.

Subtract:

12- 5=________

You can count backwards to subtract. Start from 12 and count back 5.

12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7

12- 5=7
  • The difference is 7. The penguin ate 7 fish in his afternoon feeding.

Let’s practice!