Word Problems: Subtraction

What Are Subtraction Word Problems?

• Subtraction word problems are short stories that ask us to find how much is left or the difference between two groups.
• We look for clue words that tell us to take something away or compare amounts.
• To solve them, we turn the words into a number sentence like 5 - 2 = 3.

The Clue Words When you see these words in a story, it usually means you need to subtract:

• Left
• Remaining
• Difference
• Fewer
• How many more
• Take away

How to Solve a Word Problem There are three simple steps to follow:

1. Circle the Numbers: Identify the numbers mentioned in the story.
2. Find the Clue Word: Look for words like left or difference.
3. Write the Number Sentence: Put the bigger number first, followed by a - sign and an = sign.

Examples of Subtraction Stories

The Balloon Story

• Tim had 7 balloons. 3 of them popped. How many balloons are left?
• Number Sentence: 7 - 3 = 4
• Difference: 4 balloons.

The Cookie Story

• There were 10 cookies on a plate. Sara ate 4 cookies. How many cookies remain on the plate?
• Number Sentence: 10 - 4 = 6
• Difference: 6 cookies.

The Bird Story

• 8 birds were sitting on a fence. 5 birds flew away. How many birds are still on the fence?
• Number Sentence: 8 - 5 = 3
• Difference: 3 birds.

Practice Tip: The Cross-Out Method

• If a subtraction problem is hard, draw the total number of objects first.
• Cross out the number of objects that were taken away or lost.
• Count the objects that do not have a cross to find your answer.

Lesson Summary

• Subtraction word problems ask us to find what remains.
• Look for clue words like left or fewer to know when to subtract.
• Always put the larger number first in your number sentence to find the Difference.