Addition and Subtraction Word Problems: practice solutions, Grade 1 – download the PDF

1 Ducks on a pond ★★★

More ducks join, so we add: \(7 + 6 = 13\).

There are 13 ducks on the pond.

2 Popped balloons ★★★

Some balloons go away, so we subtract: \(15 - 8 = 7\).

Maya has 7 balloons left.

3 Red and blue marbles ★★★

Two groups are put together: \(9 + 4 = 13\).

There are 13 marbles in the bag.

4 Stickers on a page ★★★

The total is 12 and one part is 5, so we take apart: \(12 - 5 = 7\).

Check: \(5 + 7 = 12\). There are 7 stickers in the box.

5 True or false? ★★★

1. True: \(6 + 7 = 13\).
2. False: \(15 - 9 = 6\), not 7. Check: \(6 + 9 = 15\).

6 Seashells ★★★

We compare the two amounts: \(11 - 8 = 3\).

Mia found 3 more seashells than Leo. Check: \(8 + 3 = 11\).

7 Match the equation ★★★

Birds go away, so the equation is \(10 - 4 = 6\).

There are 6 birds left.

8 Apples in a bowl ★★★

The change is unknown: \(6 + ? = 14\).

\(14 - 6 = 8\). Check: \(6 + 8 = 14\). Dad put in 8 apples.

9 Frogs on a log ★★★

The start is unknown: \(? + 5 = 12\).

\(12 - 5 = 7\). Check: \(7 + 5 = 12\). There were 7 frogs at first.

10 Cookies ★★★

The start is unknown: \(? - 6 = 9\).

To find the start we add back what was taken: \(9 + 6 = 15\). Check: \(15 - 6 = 9\). There were 15 cookies.

11 Boys and girls ★★★

We take apart the total: \(17 - 9 = 8\).

Check: \(9 + 8 = 17\). There are 8 boys.

12 Fewer stickers ★★★

“Fewer” means a smaller amount: \(16 - 7 = 9\).

Ava has 9 stickers.

13 Crayon box ★★★

There is no pair that makes 10, so we add in order: \(5 + 7 = 12\), then \(12 + 4 = 16\).

There are 16 crayons.

14 Complete the bar model ★★★

The missing part is \(18 - 11 = 7\).

Equations: \(11 + 7 = 18\) and \(18 - 11 = 7\).

15 Add or subtract? ★★★

1. More arrive: \(9 + 8 = 17\) cats.
2. Some go away: \(18 - 9 = 9\) fish are left.
3. Groups are put together: \(7 + 11 = 18\) children.

16 Find the missing number ★★★

1. \(13 - 5 = 8\), so \(13 = 5 + 8\).
2. The start is \(9 + 8 = 17\), so \(9 = 17 - 8\).
3. \(14 - 6 = 8\), so \(14 - 8 = 6\).
4. \(11 - 4 = 7\), so \(7 + 4 = 11\).

17 Pencils ★★★

Tom has the bigger amount, and the gap is 4. So Nia has \(9 - 4 = 5\) pencils.

Check: \(5 + 4 = 9\).

18 Make ten first ★★★

1. \(8 + 2 = 10\), then \(10 + 6 = 16\).
2. \(7 + 3 = 10\), then \(10 + 5 = 15\).

19 Birds on a wire ★★★

Step 1: \(9 + 5 = 14\) birds.

Step 2: \(14 - 7 = 7\) birds.

There are 7 birds on the wire now.

20 Find the mistake ★★★

People got off, so the number gets smaller. Max added, but he should subtract.

Right equation: \(14 - 6 = 8\). There are 8 people on the bus.

21 Compare with a model ★★★

The gap is \(16 - 11 = 5\). Raj has 5 fewer stickers.

Sample story: Nora has 8 toy cars. She gets 7 more. Now she has \(8 + 7 = 15\) toy cars.