Addition & Subtraction Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A library had 85 books. Students returned 23 books and borrowed 41 books. How many books are in the library now?
A) 77
B) 67
C) 57
D) 63
First add the returned books: 85 + 23 = 108. Then subtract the borrowed books: 108 − 41 = 67. There are 67 books in the library now.
2. Emma baked 30 cookies. She gave 12 to her neighbor and 9 to her brother. How many cookies does Emma have left?
A) 19
B) 11
C) 9
D) 21
First subtract the neighbor's cookies: 30 − 12 = 18. Then subtract the brother's cookies: 18 − 9 = 9. Emma has 9 cookies left.
3. A bus has 48 seats. 29 people are sitting and 13 are standing in the aisle. How many empty seats are there?
A) 6
B) 16
C) 19
D) 22
Only seated people use seats. Subtract the seated people from total seats: 48 − 29 = 19. There are 19 empty seats.
4. Mia collected 37 shells on Monday and 26 on Tuesday. She lost 15 shells on Wednesday. How many shells does she have?
A) 58
B) 48
C) 52
D) 42
First add the shells Mia collected: 37 + 26 = 63. Then subtract the shells she lost: 63 − 15 = 48. Mia has 48 shells.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A garden has 53 roses. The gardener plants 28 more and picks 34. Now there are 47 roses.
First add the planted roses: 53 + 28 = 81. Then subtract the picked roses: 81 − 34 = 47.
2. Jay had 70 baseball cards. He traded 25 away and got 16 new ones. He has 61 cards.
First subtract the traded cards: 70 − 25 = 45. Then add the new cards: 45 + 16 = 61.
3. A zoo has 44 birds and 38 reptiles. 19 animals are moved out. 63 animals remain.
First add all the animals: 44 + 38 = 82. Then subtract the animals moved out: 82 − 19 = 63.
4. There are 62 kids at a park. 27 leave and 15 more arrive. Now there are 50 kids.
First subtract the kids who left: 62 − 27 = 35. Then add the kids who arrived: 35 + 15 = 50.
5. Sam had 95 cents. He spent 46 cents and found 21 cents. He has 70 cents now.
First subtract what Sam spent: 95 − 46 = 49. Then add what he found: 49 + 21 = 70.