problem solving comparison problems with addition and subtraction

Word Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction

Word problems involving addition and subtraction are discussed here step by step.

There are no magic rules to make problem solving easy, but a systematic approach can help to the problems easily. 

Word problems based on addition are broadly of two types: (a) When objects of two or more collections are put together.  For example:

Amy has 20 lemon sweets and 14 orange sweets. What is the total number of sweets Amy has?  (b) When an increase in number takes place. 

For example:

Victor has 14 stamps. His friend gave him 23 stamps. How many stamps does Victor have in all? The key words used in problems involving addition are:

s um; total; in all; all together.

Word problems based on subtraction are of several types: (a) Partitioning : Take away, remove, given away.

(b) Reducing : Find out how much has been given away or how much remains.

(c) Comparison : More than / less than.

(d) Inverse of addition : How much more to be added. The key words to look out for in a problem sum involving subtraction are: take away; how many more ; how many less ; how many left ; greater ; smaller.

1. The girls had 3 weeks to sell tickets for their play. In the first week, they sold 75 tickets. In the second week they sold 108 tickets and in the third week they sold 210 tickets. How may tickets did they sell in all? Tickets sold in the first week = 75

Tickets sold in the second week = 108

Tickets sold in the third week = 210

Total number of tickets sold = 75 + 108 + 210 = 393

Answer: 393 tickets were sold in all.

2. Mr. Bose spent $450 for petrol on Wednesday. He spent $125 more than that on Thursday. How much did he spend on petrol on those two days. This problem has to be solved in two steps.

Step 1: Money spent for petrol on Thursday

450 + 125 = $575 Step 2: Money spent for petrol on both days

450 + 575 = $1025

Examples on word problems on addition and subtraction:

1. What is the sum of 4373, 4191 and 3127? Solution: The numbers are arranged in columns and added.

Therefore, sum =11,691

2. What is the difference of 3867 and 1298?

Solution: The numbers are arranged in columns and subtracted:

Therefore, difference = 2569

3. Subtract 4358 from the sum of 5632 and 1324. Solution: Sum of 5632 and 1324

Difference of 6956 and 4358

Therefore, 2598 is the answer.

4. Find the number, which is

(i) 1240 greater than 3267.

(ii) 1353 smaller than 5292. Solution: (i) The number is 1240 more than 3267

Therefore, the number = 3267 + 1240 or = 4507 (ii) The number is 1353 less than 5292

= 5292 – 1353 or

5. The population of a town is 16732. If there are 9569 males then find the number of females in the town. Solution:

6. In a factory there are 35,675 workers. 10,750 workers come in the first shift, 12,650 workers in the second shift and the rest come in the third shift. How many workers come in the third shift? Solution: Number of workers coming in the first and second shift

= 10750 + 12650 = 23400

Therefore, number of workers coming in the third shift = 35675 - 23400 = 12275

Related Concept

● Word Problems on Addition

● Subtraction

● Check for Subtraction and Addition

● Word Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction

● Estimating Sums and Differences

● Find the Missing Digits

● Multiplication

● Multiply a Number by a 2-Digit Number

● Multiplication of a Number by a 3-Digit Number

● Multiply a Number

● Estimating Products

● Word Problems on Multiplication

● Multiplication and Division

● Terms Used in Division

● Division of Two-Digit by a One-Digit Numbers

● Division of Four-Digit by a One-Digit Numbers

● Division by 10 and 100 and 1000

● Dividing Numbers

● Estimating the Quotient

● Division by Two-Digit Numbers

● Word Problems on Division

4th Grade Math Activities From Word Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction to

Didn't find what you were looking for? Or want to know more information about Math Only Math . Use this Google Search to find what you need.

New! Comments

Share this page: What’s this?

• Preschool Activities
• Kindergarten Math
• 1st Grade Math
• 2nd Grade Math
• 3rd Grade Math
• 4th Grade Math
• 5th Grade Math
• 6th Grade Math
• 7th Grade Math
• 8th Grade Math
• 9th Grade Math
• 10th Grade Math
• 11 & 12 Grade Math
• Concepts of Sets
• Probability
• Boolean Algebra
• Math Coloring Pages
• Multiplication Table
• Cool Maths Games
• Math Flash Cards
• Online Math Quiz
• Math Puzzles
• Binary System
• Math Dictionary
• Conversion Chart
• Homework Sheets
• Math Problem Ans
• Free Math Answers
• Printable Math Sheet
• Funny Math Answers
• Employment Test
• Math Patterns
• Link Partners
• Privacy Policy

© and ™ math-only-math.com. All Rights Reserved. 2010 - 2024.

Reading & Math for K-5

• Kindergarten
• Learning numbers
• Comparing numbers
• Place Value
• Roman numerals
• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Order of operations
• Drills & practice
• Measurement
• Factoring & prime factors
• Proportions
• Shape & geometry
• Data & graphing
• Word problems
• Children's stories
• Leveled stories
• Sight words
• Sentences & passages
• Context clues
• Cause & effect
• Compare & contrast
• Fact vs. fiction
• Fact vs. opinion
• Main idea & details
• Story elements
• Conclusions & inferences
• Sounds & phonics
• Words & vocabulary
• Reading comprehension
• Early writing
• Numbers & counting
• Simple math
• Social skills
• Other activities
• Dolch sight words
• Fry sight words
• Multiple meaning words
• Prefixes & suffixes
• Vocabulary cards
• Other parts of speech
• Punctuation
• Capitalization
• Narrative writing
• Opinion writing
• Informative writing
• Cursive alphabet
• Cursive letters
• Cursive letter joins
• Cursive words
• Cursive sentences
• Cursive passages
• Grammar & Writing

Breadcrumbs

• Word Problems
• Add & subtract

Download & Print Only $3.40

Addition & subtraction word problems

Mixed addition and subtraction.

These word problems worksheets involve addition and subtraction of two or three addends or subtrahends with up to 4 digits. The last question on each worksheet asks the student to write an equation using a variable (" X ") for the unknown quantity.

These worksheets are available to members only.

Join K5 to save time, skip ads and access more content. Learn More

More word problem worksheets

Explore all of our math word problem worksheets , from kindergarten through grade 5.

What is K5?

K5 Learning offers free worksheets , flashcards  and inexpensive  workbooks  for kids in kindergarten to grade 5. Become a member  to access additional content and skip ads.

Our members helped us give away millions of worksheets last year.

We provide free educational materials to parents and teachers in over 100 countries. If you can, please consider purchasing a membership ($24/year) to support our efforts.

Members skip ads and access exclusive features.

Learn about member benefits

This content is available to members only.

Addition & Subtraction Word Problems

Related Topics: More Math Word Problems Math Worksheets

How to solve addition and subtraction two-step word problems? These examples of addition and subtraction word problems and solutions will illustrate how to use the block diagrams (Singapore Math) method and tape diagrams (Common Core Math) to solve word problems. Go to Math Word Problems for more examples.

How to use bar models to solve addition and subtraction word problems? Examples:

• The Toyota car factory makes 7,736 cars a day. It makes 1,372 more cars a day than the Honda car factory. a) How many cars does the Honda factory make each day? b) If the Honda factory sells 3,459 cars today, how many cars will the Honda factory have left?
• A high school has 4,268 students. It has 768 less students than the college. a) How many students does the college have? b) How many students do both schools have altogether?
• The Chicago tribune, a newspaper, prints 483 papers on Tuesday. The newspaper prints 87 fewer newspapers on Thursday. a) How many newspapers does the paper print on Thursday? b) How many papers does the Chicago Tribune print on both Tuesday and Thursday?

What is a Tape Diagram? A tape diagram is a drawing that looks like a segment of tape, used to illustrate number relationships. It is also known as strip diagrams, bar model, fraction strip, or length model.

How to use tape diagrams in Part-whole Model and Additive Comparison Model problems? Examples:

• The office supply closet had 25,473 large paperclips, 13,648 medium paperclips and 15,306 small paperclips. How many paperclips were in the closet?
• Raffle tickets were sold for a school fundraiser to parent, teachers, and students. 563 tickets were sold to teachers. 888 mire tickets were sold to students than to teachers. 904 tickets were sold to parents. a) About how many tickets were sold to parents, teachers, and students? Round each number to the nearest hundred to find your estimate. b) Exactly how many tickets were sold to parents, teachers, and students? c) Assess the reasonableness of your answer in (b). Use your estimate from (a) to explain.
• During the month of March 68,025 pounds of king crab were caught. If 15,614 pounds were caught in the first week of March, how many pounds were caught in the rest of the month?

How to model and solve an addition or subtraction word problem involving two changes? Example: Danny has 40 Star Fleet cards. He lost 17 cards at the park. He bought 13 cards at the store. How many cards did Danny have then?

How to model and solve a part-whole addition word problem involving two parts Singapore Math - Addition and Subtraction with Two Parts Part-Whole Model with two parts - Finding the whole. Example: Dylan paid $5 for a book. He had $19 left. How much money did Dylan have at first?

How to model and solve a part-whole addition word problem involving three parts? Singapore Math - Addition and Subtraction with Three Parts Example: Sam is reading a book. He read 9 pages yesterday and 5 pages today. If he reads 12 more pages, he will finish the book. How many pages are in Sam’s book?

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.