We can use mathematics to solve real life problems. To solve worded problems you need to read the words carefully and change the words into number sentences or equations. See the table below for words that could mean addition or subtraction in worded problems.

addition	subtraction
more than more add sum plus increase give to	less than less subtract difference minus decrease take away

Can you think of other words that mean addition or subtraction?

Look at the video below to see how to write number sentences from worded problems.

Examples

QUESTION 1

There were $10$10 flowers in $Carl$ ’s garden. $4$4 more flowers grew, then $Carl$ picked $10$10 flowers to put in a vase.

Which equation matches the word problem for the number of flowers left in the garden?
$10-4+10$10−4+10
A
$10+4-10$10+4−10
B
$10+4+10$10+4+10
C
$10-4-10$10−4−10
D
How many flowers are left in the garden?

QUESTION 2

A $frog$ took $6$6 jumps forward, then took $3$3 jumps back.

Which equation (number sentence) matches the word problem for the number of jumps the $frog$ is from its starting point?
$0+6+3$0+6+3
A
$0+6$0+6
B
$0+6-3$0+6−3
C
$0-3$0−3
D
How many jumps is the $frog$ from its starting point?

QUESTION 3

$10-3-5$10−3−5

Which story matches the equation?
It took Bob $10$10 minutes to read the first chapter in his book. He was $3$3 minutes slower reading Chapter Two and $5$5 minutes slower reading Chapter Three.
A
A farmer had $10$10 boxes of corn to sell at the markets. He sold $3$3 boxes on Saturday and $5$5 boxes on Sunday.
B
Judy found $10$10 marbles on Thursday, lost $3$3 on Friday but bought another $5$5 on Saturday.
C
How many boxes of corn does the farmer have left?

Outcomes

3.NN1.10

Solve problems that arise from real-life situations and that relate to the magnitude of whole numbers up to 1000

Word Sentences for Addition and Subtraction