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Subtraction Word Problems Up To Twenty

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Subtraction Word Problems Up To Twenty
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Basics on the topic Subtraction Word Problems Up To Twenty

Subtraction – Word Problems

What is subtraction? Subtraction word problems are math problems that ask the learner to solve by taking away from a number. In order to solve subtraction problems, you need to do the following:

  • The first step is to read or listen to the word problem. As you read or listen, think; what do I need to figure out?’, and highlight the question you need to solve by looking for the question mark.
  • The second step is to read or listen to the word problem again and highlight the clue words and numbers. Clue words are words that tell us the important information we need to figure out the answer.
  • The third step is to think: Do I add or subtract? How do you know when to subtract in a word problem? There are certain words that mean subtraction in word problems
  • The fourth step is to write a number sentence and use drawings to help you solve it!
  • The last step is to write down the answer to the subtraction problem.

In the next section we will look at an example of word problems with subtraction.

Word Problems with Subtraction – Example

This section will explain how to solve subtraction word problems by looking at basic subtraction word problems. Let’s begin: Let’s look at an example of a word problem. The first step is to read the task and to then highlight the clue words. Here we highlight “How many are left?”, because that's what we need to figure out!

there-are-fourteen-cows-and-three-cows-leave-to-drink-water-how-many-are-left-highlighted-subtraction-word-problems.svg

The second step is to read or listen to the word problem again and highlight the clue words and numbers. Clue words are words that tell us the important information we need to figure out the answer! Here, we highlight, "fourteen cows”, because that's how many cows were there at first. We also highlight, "three cows leave", because that tells us how many left to drink water.

there-are-fourteen-cows-and-three-cows-leave-to-drink-water-highlighted-how-many-are-left-highlighted-subtraction-word-problems.svg

The third step is to think: Do I add or subtract? How do you know when to subtract in a word problem? There are certain words that mean subtraction in word problems! In this subtraction word problem, "Three cows leave", which tells us to subtract because they are going away!

The fourth step is to write a number sentence. The number sentence we need to solve is fourteen minus three equals question mark, because there were fourteen cows, and three left to go to the watering hole, so we figure out fourteen minus three to see how many are left!

fourteen-minus-three-equals-question-mark-subtraction-word-problems.svg

The last step is to solve the number sentence. We can draw circles to help us solve, so we have fourteen circles. Since we are subtracting three, we will cross off three. How many are left?

fourteen-minus-three-equals-eleven-fourteen-circles-three-crossed-off-subtraction-word-problems.svg

Fourteen minus three equals eleven! So we can answer that eleven cows are left.

Word Problems with Subtraction – Summary

How do you solve word problems with subtraction? Remember, to find the answer to a word problem using subtraction:

Step # What to do
1 Read or listen to the word problem.
As you read, think; ‘what do I need to figure out?
2 Next, read or listen to it again and
highlight the clue words and numbers.
3 Then, think: ‘Do I add or subtract?’
4 Last, write a number sentence and use drawings
to help you solve it! Don't forget to write your answer.

Have you practiced yet? On this website you can practice subtraction word problems for first graders and and even some easy subtraction word problems. You can also find interactive exercises with word problems and subtraction as well as worksheets and other activities.

Transcript Subtraction Word Problems Up To Twenty

"Looking after these cows sure has me working up a sweat!" "Yeah, it's hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July!" "You've got that right, I think it's time to MOOOOVE some of these cows to the watering hole!" Let's help Mr. Squeaks and Imani keep track of the cows by solving... "Subtraction Word Problems up to Twenty" Subtract means to take away from a group. "There are fourteen cows. (...) Three cows leave to drink water. (...) How many are left?" (...) To find the answer to a word problem using subtraction... first, Read or listen to the word problem. As you read or listen, think; what do I need to figure out?... and highlight the question you need to solve by looking for the question mark. Remember, a question mark looks like THIS. What do we highlight? (...) Here we highlight “How many are left?”... because that's what we need to figure out! Next, read or listen to the word problem again and highlight the clue words and numbers. Clue words, are words that tell us the important information we need to figure out the answer! In, "There are fourteen cows"... highlight "fourteen cows" because that's how many cows were there at first... and highlight "three cows leave", because that tells us how many left to drink water. Then, think: Do I add or subtract? "Three cows leave" tells us to subtract because they are going away! Now that we've highlighted all of the IMPORTANT information, let's write a number sentence. The number sentence we need to solve is fourteen minus three equals question mark... because there were fourteen cows, and three left to go to the watering hole, so we figure out fourteen minus three to see how many are left! The last step is to solve the number sentence. We can draw circles to help us solve so... let's draw fourteen circles, one for each cow! Since we are subtracting three, we will cross off three... let's count together! one, (...) two, (...) three! (...) How many are left? (...) Let's count together! One, (...) two, (...) three, (...) four, (...) five, (...) six, (...) seven, (...) eight, (...) nine, (...) ten, (...) eleven! There are eleven cows left, so we write the answer HERE. Before we check on the cows at the watering hole, let's remember! Remember (...) to find the answer to a word problem using subtraction... first, “Read or listen to the word problem”. As you read, think; what do I need to figure out?... and highlight the question you need to solve by looking for the question mark. Next, read or listen to it again and highlight the clue words and numbers. Then, think: (...) Do I add or subtract? Last, write a number sentence (...) and use drawings to help you solve it! Don't forget to write your answer! Mr. Squeaks and Imani go to check on the cows in the watering hole. What's happening!? Oh no! Hold on tight Mr. Squeaks! "Bill! I haven't see you in ten years! How are you?!?!"

Subtraction Word Problems Up To Twenty exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Subtraction Word Problems Up To Twenty.
  • What does SUBTRACT mean?

    Hints

    This picture shows a subtraction problem.

    We use the minus (-) symbol when we subtract.

    Subtraction is the opposite of addition.

    Solution

    Subtract means to take away from a group. When we take away from a group, there are less items left in that group.

  • What are the steps to find the answer to a word problem using subtraction?

    Hints

    Step 1 is read or listen to the word problem.

    Here is a hint for Step 2!

    These help us with the order of the steps to solve a word problem.

    Solution

    Here are the correct order of steps. When solving word problems, it is very important to follow the correct order of steps to help get to the correct answer.

    1. Read or listen to the word problem.
    2. Highlight the clue words.
    3. Do I add or subtract?
    4. Write a number sentence.
    5. Solve the number sentence.
  • Write the number sentence to the word problem. Then solve the number sentence.

    Hints

    "They ate 7 of the apples." tells us to subtract 7.

    We can draw 19 apples to help us solve the problem. We cross 7 of the apples and then we count how many are left.

    19-7=?

    Solution

    Skylar and Henry have 12 apples left.

  • Solve the word problem.

    Hints

    Look for key words. What are you asked to do, add or subtract?

    You can use the picture to help fill in the number sentence.

    Finding the difference of the amount of objects means you subtract.

    Solution

    There are 11 yellow balloons in the shop.

  • Help Andy solve the word problem.

    Hints

    Andy had 17 candies in the beginning.

    We need to subtract the 4 candies from the total number of candies.

    Solution

    17-4=13

  • Select the picture that will help you solve the subtraction word problem.

    Hints

    Think of how many crayons Anna had before her mom gave her 4 more.

    Anna has 12 crayons. Look for the pictures that show her 12 crayons.

    Solution

    Anna has 12 crayons. If you subtract 4 crayons that her mom gave her, you will find the amount of crayons that Anna started with. Anna started with 8 crayons.