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🍎 Addition and Subtraction Word Problems

Solve story problems like 'six apples, two get eaten — how many are left?' using counters, drawings, and missing-number thinking, all the way up to 20.

4
lessons
~20 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Ages 6–12
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. Add-To StoriesSolve 'add to' and 'put together' word problems within 10 using objects and drawings.Some math problems are little stories. When more things arrive or join, you add. You can solve add-to stories by putting the groups together and counting all, or by using counters to check. For example, 3 ducks and 2 more make 5.
  2. Take-From StoriesSolve 'take from' word problems within 10 using objects and drawings.When something is eaten, lost, or given away, you subtract to find what's left. You can solve take-from stories by drawing the objects and crossing some out, or by taking counters away. For example, 6 apples with 2 eaten leaves 4.
  3. Bigger Stories to 20Solve one-step add and subtract word problems to 20 and choose the right operation.Word problems work the same way with bigger numbers up to 20. A number line helps: count on to add, hop back to subtract. The trick is choosing the operation — words like 'more' and 'join' mean add, while 'eat', 'lose', and 'give away' mean subtract.
  4. Missing Number MysteriesSolve missing-number problems such as 7 = ? - 9 by working backwards.Sometimes a number in the story is missing. To find a missing start number in a take-away, work backwards by adding: for 7 = ? - 9, add 7 + 9 = 16. For a missing addend like 8 + ? = 10, count up from 8 to 10 to get 2. Always check by putting the number back in the story.

Questions this course answers

3 ducks are on the pond and 2 more swim over. How many ducks now?

More ducks arrive, so we add: 3 + 2 = 5.

4 birds are singing, then 3 more come. How many birds?

3 more birds join, so we add: 4 + 3 = 7.

7 grapes are in a bowl and you eat 3. How many are left?

Taking away 3 from 7 leaves 4: 7 - 3 = 4.

I have 12 sweets and eat 4. How many are left?

Taking away 4 from 12 leaves 8: 12 - 4 = 8.

Find the missing number: 7 = ? - 9

Some number minus 9 leaves 7, so the number is 7 + 9 = 16.

Find the missing number: 8 + ? = 10

Count up from 8 to 10 — that's 2, because 8 + 2 = 10.

Grounded in trusted sources

  • Khan Academy Kids
  • PBS Kids — early math
  • NAEYC — early math learning
  • Britannica Kids

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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