Addition and Subtraction Word Problems

Learn the common words and phrases in word problems that signal whether you should add or subtract. Knowing these keywords is the first step to solving any math story!

Practice solving simple word problems that require one addition step. Read the story, find the numbers, and add them together to find the total.

Practice with word problems that need one subtraction step. These problems might ask what's 'left' after some are taken away, or ask for the 'difference' between two numbers.

Master word problems that ask you to compare two amounts using phrases like 'how many more' or 'how many fewer'. These problems use subtraction to find the difference.

Tackle complex problems that require two calculations to solve. You might need to add then subtract, add twice, or subtract twice. Read carefully and solve one step at a time.

Learn to solve problems by thinking about 'parts' and the 'whole'. If you know the parts, you add to find the whole. If you know the whole and one part, you subtract to find the missing part.