Word problems are like little stories that need solving. To solve them, we use something called a number sentence. This helps us understand what’s happening and find the answer.
Addition word problems are about putting things together. Look for words like “add,” “join,” “how many in all,” or “altogether” to know it’s an addition problem.
Example: Paul has five apples. He picks three more apples from the tree. How many does he have altogether?
We see the word “altogether,” so we know it’s about joining. We write an addition sentence: 5 apples + 3 apples = 8 apples. So, Paul has 8 apples altogether.
Did you find out how many apples Paul has altogether? Yes, he has 8 apples!
Subtraction word problems are about taking things away or comparing. Look for words like “take away,” “subtract,” “less than,” “how many more,” or “how many are left.”
Example: There are six ants on the leaf. Three ants crawl away. How many ants are left?
We see “how many are left,” so it’s a subtraction problem. We write: 6 ants – 3 ants = 3 ants. So, there are 3 ants left.
Did you find out how many ants are left? Yes, 3 ants are left!
Comparing problems are about finding out how many more or fewer things are in one group than another.
Example: There are 12 carrots on the plate and five carrots on the table. How many more carrots are there on the plate?
We see “how many more,” so we compare using subtraction: 12 carrots – 5 carrots = 7 carrots. So, there are 7 more carrots on the plate.
Did you find out how many more carrots are on the plate? Yes, there are 7 more carrots!
Sometimes, word problems have two parts. We solve them step by step, just like before.
Example: Betsy had five yellow marbles. Her mom gave her seven blue marbles. How many did she have in all? Then she lost four marbles. How many did she have left?
Betsy had five yellow marbles. Her mom gave her seven blue marbles. How many did she have in all?
Keywords: “how many in all.” 5 marbles + 7 marbles = 12 marbles. So, Betsy has 12 marbles in all.
Did you find out how many marbles Betsy had in all? Yes, she has 12 marbles!
Then she lost four marbles. How many did she have left?
Keywords: “how many did she have left.” 12 marbles – 4 marbles = 8 marbles. So, Betsy has 8 marbles left.
Did you find out how many marbles Betsy had left? Yes, she has 8 marbles left!
Example: Jim had 15 radishes in his garden. A rabbit ate nine of them. How many did he have left? Then five more grew in the garden. How many did he have altogether?
Jim had 15 radishes in his garden. A rabbit ate nine of them. How many did he have left?
Keywords: “how many did he have left.” 15 radishes – 9 radishes = 6 radishes. So, Jim has 6 radishes left.
Did you find out how many radishes Jim had left? Yes, he has 6 radishes left!
Then five more grew. How many did he have altogether?
Keywords: “altogether.” 6 radishes + 5 radishes = 11 radishes. So, Jim has 11 radishes altogether.
Did you find out how many radishes Jim had altogether? Yes, he has 11 radishes!
Word Problem Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around your home or classroom to find objects you can use to create your own word problems. For example, you might find 4 toy cars and 3 toy trucks. Write a word problem about them, like “If you add the toy cars and trucks together, how many vehicles do you have in total?” Solve your problem and share it with a friend or family member.
Story Time with Math: Create a short story using your favorite characters or animals. Include at least one addition and one subtraction word problem in your story. For example, “The bunny found 5 carrots in the garden and then found 2 more. How many carrots does the bunny have now?” and “The bunny gave 3 carrots to a friend. How many carrots are left?” Draw pictures to illustrate your story and solve the problems.
Math Detective: Become a math detective and observe your surroundings for real-life math problems. For example, count the number of apples in a fruit bowl and imagine giving some away. Write down the subtraction problem you created. Or, if you see two groups of toys, write an addition problem to find out how many toys there are in total. Share your findings with your classmates or family.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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**Word Problems**
The strategy we use to solve a word problem is to write a number sentence. The number sentence will tell us about the situation in the problem and help us solve it by organizing the facts.
**Addition Word Problems**
Addition word problems show joining or combining situations. The keywords to look for in an addition word problem are “add,” “join,” “how many in all,” or “altogether.”
**Step One:** Read and understand the problem.
Example: Paul has five apples. He picks three more apples from the tree. How many does he have altogether?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the problem.
We see the keyword “altogether,” so we know this is a joining situation. We must write an addition sentence: five apples (which he started with) plus three he picked from the tree equals eight altogether. So, 5 plus 3 equals 8.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Did you answer the question? Did you find out how many apples Paul has altogether?
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**Subtraction Word Problems**
Subtraction word problems show separating or comparing situations. The keywords to look for in a subtraction word problem are “take away,” “subtract,” “less than,” “how many more,” “how many less,” “how many fewer,” or “how many are left.”
For separating situations, we are removing one part from the whole, and the remaining part is then counted to see how many are left.
**Step One:** Read and understand the problem.
Example: There are six ants on the leaf. Three ants crawl away. How many ants are left?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the problem.
We see the keywords “how many are left,” so we know this is a subtraction situation. We must write a subtraction number sentence: six ants were on the leaf minus three ants which crawled away equals three ants left. So, 6 minus 3 equals 3.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Did you answer the question? Did you find out how many ants were left on the leaf?
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**Comparing Situations**
For comparing situations, we compare two groups by counting the number in each group and then find out how many more are in the larger of the two groups.
**Step One:** Read and understand the problem.
Example: There are 12 carrots on the plate and five carrots on the table. How many more carrots are there on the plate?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the problem.
We see the keywords “how many more,” so we know this is a comparing situation. When we compare two groups, we use subtraction: 12 carrots on the plate minus 5 carrots on the table equals 7. So, 12 minus 5 equals 7.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Compare the numbers in each group to find out how many more are on the plate.
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**Two-Step Word Problems**
We follow the same steps we did in the addition and subtraction word problems.
Example: Betsy had five yellow marbles. Her mom gave her seven blue marbles. How many did she have in all? Then she lost four marbles. How many did she have left?
**Step One:** Read and understand the first part of the problem.
Betsy had five yellow marbles. Her mom gave her seven blue marbles. How many did she have in all?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the first part of the problem.
Keywords: “how many in all.” Five yellow marbles plus seven blue marbles equals 12 marbles in all. So, 5 plus 7 equals 12.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Did you find out how many marbles Betsy had in all?
**Repeat the steps for the second question.**
**Step One:** Read and understand the second part of the problem.
Then she lost four marbles. How many did she have left?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the second part of the question.
Keywords: “how many did she have left.” 12 marbles in all minus four which she lost equals eight. So, 12 minus 4 equals 8.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Did you find out how many marbles Betsy had left after losing four of them?
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**Now let’s try another one.**
Example: Jim had 15 radishes in his garden. A rabbit ate nine of them. How many did he have left? Then five more grew in the garden. How many did he have altogether?
**Step One:** Read and understand the first part of the problem.
Jim had 15 radishes in his garden. A rabbit ate nine of them. How many did he have left?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the first part of the problem.
Keywords: “how many did he have left.” 15 radishes which he started with minus nine which the rabbit ate equals six radishes left. So, 15 minus 9 equals 6.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Did you find out how many radishes Jim had left after the rabbit ate some?
**Now solve the second part.**
**Step One:** Read and understand the second part of the problem.
Then five more grew. How many did he have altogether?
**Step Two:** Plan and solve the second part of the problem.
Keywords: “altogether.” Six radishes which were left plus five more radishes which grew equals 11 radishes altogether. So, 6 plus 5 equals 11.
**Step Three:** Look back and check your answer.
Did you find out how many radishes Jim had altogether?
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This version maintains the educational content while removing any informal language or errors.
