Addition & Subtraction Word Problems — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A store has 43 hats. It gets 29 more. Now it has 72 hats.
The store added 29 hats to its 43, so we add: 43 + 29 = 72 hats on the shelves.
2. Nora had 81 beads. She used 36. She has 45 beads left.
Nora used some beads, so subtract what she used from her starting amount: 81 − 36 = 45 beads still in the bag.
3. A bus has 27 passengers. 34 more get on. Now there are 61 passengers.
More passengers got on the bus, so add the new riders to the ones already there: 27 + 34 = 61 passengers in total.
4. Zach had 95 coins. He spent 48. He has 47 coins now.
Spending coins means giving them away, so subtract: 95 − 48 = 47 coins remaining in Zach's pocket.
5. A box has 38 red crayons and 45 blue crayons. It has 83 crayons in all.
"In all" means count both colors together, so add the red and blue groups: 38 + 45 = 83 crayons in the box.
6. The library had 74 books. Students borrowed 39. 35 books are left.
Borrowed books leave the shelf, so we subtract the borrowed amount: 74 − 39 = 35 books still on the library shelf.
7. Kim picked 56 berries. She picked 27 more. She has 83 berries total.
Kim picked extra berries on top of her first pile, so add the two amounts: 56 + 27 = 83 berries in her basket.
8. A basket has 62 eggs. 35 crack. 27 eggs are still whole.
Cracked eggs no longer count as whole, so subtract them from the total: 62 − 35 = 27 eggs that are still good.
9. Jon has 19 toy cars and 54 toy trucks. He has 73 toys altogether.
"Altogether" tells us to combine cars and trucks into one group of toys: 19 + 54 = 73 toys in Jon's collection.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
A store has 43 hats. It gets 29 more.
→ 43 + 29 = 72
27 + 34 = 61
Nora had 81 beads. She used 36.
→ 81 − 36 = 45
95 − 48 = 47
A bus has 27 passengers. 34 more get on.
→ 27 + 34 = 61
43 + 29 = 72
Zach had 95 coins. He spent 48.
→ 95 − 48 = 47
81 − 36 = 45
Each problem is matched by its action: "more" stories use addition (43 + 29 and 27 + 34), while "used" and "spent" stories use subtraction (81 − 36 and 95 − 48) to find what is left.