Addition & Subtraction Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. There are 54 students. 27 get on Bus A. 15 get on Bus B. How many students are left?
A) 22
B) 12
C) 17
D) 15
This is a two-step problem. First subtract Bus A: 54 − 27 = 27. Then subtract Bus B: 27 − 15 = 12. There are 12 students left.
2. A jar has 38 red marbles and 25 blue marbles. Sam takes out 14. How many marbles are in the jar now?
A) 59
B) 49
C) 53
D) 39
First add the marbles: 38 + 25 = 63. Then subtract what Sam took: 63 − 14 = 49. There are 49 marbles in the jar now.
3. Lena had 72 stickers. She gave 28 to Rosa and 19 to Tom. How many stickers does Lena have left?
A) 35
B) 15
C) 25
D) 44
First subtract Rosa's stickers: 72 − 28 = 44. Then subtract Tom's stickers: 44 − 19 = 25. Lena has 25 stickers left.
4. A store had 90 toys. They sold 36 in the morning and 27 in the afternoon. How many toys are left?
A) 37
B) 33
C) 27
D) 17
First subtract morning sales: 90 − 36 = 54. Then subtract afternoon sales: 54 − 27 = 27. There are 27 toys left.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Kai has 46 stamps. He buys 35 more and gives 18 away. He has 63 stamps.
First add the stamps Kai bought: 46 + 35 = 81. Then subtract the stamps he gave away: 81 − 18 = 63.
2. A tree had 84 leaves. Wind blew 39 off. 45 leaves remain.
The word 'remain' tells you to subtract. 84 − 39 = 45. Regroup: 14 − 9 = 5 in the ones place, then 7 − 3 = 4 in the tens place.
3. Ava had 55 beads. She lost 28 and found 13. She has 40 beads now.
First subtract what Ava lost: 55 − 28 = 27. Then add what she found: 27 + 13 = 40.
4. A pond has 67 fish. 24 swim away and 11 come back. Now there are 54 fish.
First subtract the fish that swam away: 67 − 24 = 43. Then add the fish that came back: 43 + 11 = 54.
5. Ben picked 31 apples and 42 oranges. He ate 18 fruits. He has 55 left.
First add all the fruits: 31 + 42 = 73. Then subtract what Ben ate: 73 − 18 = 55.