Addition & Subtraction Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A bakery made 48 muffins. It sold 19 in the morning and 13 in the afternoon. How many muffins are left?
A) 26
B) 16
C) 18
D) 22
First add the muffins sold (19 + 13 = 32), then subtract that total from the 48 baked: 48 − 32 = 16 muffins still on the shelf.
2. Mia has 35 red beads and 28 blue beads. She gives 17 beads to her friend. How many beads does Mia have now?
A) 56
B) 46
C) 36
D) 50
Add Mia's two bead colors first (35 + 28 = 63), then take away the 17 she gave away: 63 − 17 = 46 beads still hers.
3. A parking lot had 76 cars. 32 drove away and then 15 more arrived. How many cars are there now?
A) 49
B) 69
C) 59
D) 53
Subtract the cars that drove away first (76 − 32 = 44), then add the new arrivals (44 + 15 = 59 cars now in the lot).
4. Pedro picked 42 oranges and 31 lemons. He put 56 fruits in a basket. How many fruits are not in the basket?
A) 27
B) 17
C) 13
D) 23
First find the total fruit Pedro picked (42 + 31 = 73), then subtract the 56 he put in the basket: 73 − 56 = 17 fruits left out.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A garden has 53 flowers. 24 are cut and 18 new ones bloom. Now there are 47 flowers.
Subtract the cut flowers first (53 − 24 = 29), then add the new blooms (29 + 18 = 47 flowers now growing in the garden).
2. Ryan had 87 trading cards. He gave 35 to Sam. He has 52 cards left.
Ryan gave away 35 cards, so subtract that from his original collection: 87 − 35 = 52 cards still in his folder.
3. A train had 64 passengers. 28 got off and 19 got on. Now there are 55 passengers.
First subtract the riders who got off (64 − 28 = 36), then add the new ones who boarded (36 + 19 = 55 passengers riding now).
4. Luna had 45 crayons. She bought 36 more and broke 12. She has 69 crayons now.
Add the bought crayons to her starting count (45 + 36 = 81), then subtract the broken ones (81 − 12 = 69 usable crayons left).
5. A shelf had 73 books. 29 were borrowed and 16 were returned. Now there are 60 books.
Take away the borrowed books first (73 − 29 = 44), then add the ones that came back (44 + 16 = 60 books now on the shelf).