Subtraction Word Problem Signposts
Subtract (from)
Difference
Minus
Less than
Decreased by
How many more
How many left
Above is a list of key words and phrases commonly found in subtraction word problems. These words are signposts that let the person solving the problem know what operation should be used to solve the problem. I encourage you and your child to take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with these words. The next time you come to an unfamiliar word problem, you'll know just what to do!
Difference
Minus
Less than
Decreased by
How many more
How many left
Above is a list of key words and phrases commonly found in subtraction word problems. These words are signposts that let the person solving the problem know what operation should be used to solve the problem. I encourage you and your child to take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with these words. The next time you come to an unfamiliar word problem, you'll know just what to do!
Parent Tips
*Read the problem carefully
*Pick out the numbers in the problem & look for key words (signposts)
*Pick a logical strategy
*Show your work! Rewrite word problems to make number sentences.
*Count up
*Count back
*Use your knowledge of Doubles
*Pick out the numbers in the problem & look for key words (signposts)
*Pick a logical strategy
*Show your work! Rewrite word problems to make number sentences.
*Count up
*Count back
*Use your knowledge of Doubles
Practice Word Problems
1. Your grandma packed 11 carrots in your lunch. Your friend's grandma packed him 7. How many more carrots do you have than your friend?
Possible solving strategy: Four corners & A Diamond
1. Main Idea- How many more carrots do I have than my friend have?
2. Connections- I have 11 carrots, my friend has 7
3. Brainstorm- I could count up from 7 to 11, or count back from 11 to 7. I think I need to use subtraction.
4. Solve- 11...10...9...8....7 (-4).
5. Write- When I counted back from 11 to 7 I found that there was a difference of 4, so I have 4 more carrots than my friend.
2. You had 15 tickets to ride the rides at the carnival. You gave your sister 8. How many tokens do you have left?
Possible solving strategy: Solve a Simpler Problem
Doubles are easier for me to understand, so I am going to do 16-8 because I know that 16-8=8. Since 15 is one less tn 16, I will subtract 1 from my answer of 8, and get 7. 15-8=7.
3. Your winter break begins on December 22nd. Today is December 4th. How many more days until your winter break?
Possible solving strategy: Pick out numbers and look for key words
Numbers- 22, 4
Key Words- HOW MANY MORE (signpost- I know this means I need to subtract)
22-4=18
Possible solving strategy: Four corners & A Diamond
1. Main Idea- How many more carrots do I have than my friend have?
2. Connections- I have 11 carrots, my friend has 7
3. Brainstorm- I could count up from 7 to 11, or count back from 11 to 7. I think I need to use subtraction.
4. Solve- 11...10...9...8....7 (-4).
5. Write- When I counted back from 11 to 7 I found that there was a difference of 4, so I have 4 more carrots than my friend.
2. You had 15 tickets to ride the rides at the carnival. You gave your sister 8. How many tokens do you have left?
Possible solving strategy: Solve a Simpler Problem
Doubles are easier for me to understand, so I am going to do 16-8 because I know that 16-8=8. Since 15 is one less tn 16, I will subtract 1 from my answer of 8, and get 7. 15-8=7.
3. Your winter break begins on December 22nd. Today is December 4th. How many more days until your winter break?
Possible solving strategy: Pick out numbers and look for key words
Numbers- 22, 4
Key Words- HOW MANY MORE (signpost- I know this means I need to subtract)
22-4=18