Addition and Subtraction Problem Types

Joining

1. Result Unknown

There are five dogs in a yard. Three more dogs walked into the yard. How many dogs are in the yard? 5+3=___

2. Change Unknown

Mr. Groom gave haircuts to four dogs. How many more dogs need a haircut if there are eleven dogs in the shop? 4+__=11

3. Start Unknown

There was a herd of elephants. Three baby elephants were born. Now there are eight elephants. How many elephants were in the herd to start with? __+3=8

Separating (Take Away)

1. Result Unknown

There were eleven chattering monkeys. Five fell asleep. How many monkeys are still chattering? 11-5=__

2. Change Unknown

There were ten toads sitting near a pond. Some jumped away.   Four toads are still sitting near the pond. How many toads jumped away? 10-___=4

3. Start Unknown

The company of parrots had some peanuts. They ate five peanuts. Now they have two peanuts left. How many peanuts did the company of parrots have to start with? ___-5=2

Part-Whole

1. Whole Unknown

A pod of whales has three males and eight females. How many whales are in the pod? 3+8=

2. Part Unknown

There are nine birds in a cage. Three of the birds are yellow canaries and the rest are parrots.   How many parrots are in the cage? 3+___=9

Comparison

1. Difference Unknown

One litter has seven kittens. Another litter has five kittens. How many more kittens does the first litter have? 7-5=____ or 5+___=7

2. Compare Quantity Unknown

One flock of sheep has five lambs.   The second flock has eight more than the first flock.   How many lambs does the second flock have? 5+8=__

3. Referent Unknown

There are 12 geese in the pond. This is five more than the number of geese on the grass.   How many geese are on the grass? 12-5=___ or ___+5=12

All word problem information directly from MTB Kendall Hunt Publishing Company