Math Drills
Difference Word Problems Review
1Word Problems

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What this worksheet covers
Situations built on the words fewer and more are sorted according to whether they call for addition or subtraction. For fewer-than problems and for more-than problems alike, both the cases that turn into addition and the cases that turn into subtraction are covered.
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The most common error is choosing the operation from the wording alone: subtract whenever it says 3 fewer, add whenever it says more. Which quantity is actually being asked for has been missed, and the answer lands on the wrong side by exactly the difference. Drawing the situation makes the mix-up visible.
In this unit, words that mean fewer or more decide which expression to write, and the sense of judging larger from smaller sharpened in 2-Digit Subtraction becomes the clue. This way of reading a problem is put to use again later in Order and Position Word Problems, when finding a position or a number of people.
- 'Fewer' Word Problems · Addition1 question
- 'Fewer' Word Problems · Subtraction1 question
- 'More' Word Problems · Addition2 questions
- 'More' Word Problems · Subtraction2 questions
Questions & answers
Problems and answers on this worksheet
These are the problems in “Difference Word Problems”, shown with their answers.
(1)In the school's flower bed, there are 48 red flowers in bloom. There are 25 fewer red flowers than blue flowers. How many blue flowers are in bloom? Answer □
Answer: 73flowers
(2)At Olivia's house, there are 45 strawberries. There are 18 fewer bunches of grapes than strawberries. How many bunches of grapes are there? Answer □
Answer: 27bunches
(3)Henry picked up 47 acorns. There are 36 more marbles than acorns. How many marbles are there? Answer □
Answer: 83marbles
(4)On the mountain, there are 28 bears. There are 13 more monkeys than bears. How many monkeys are there? Answer □
Answer: 41monkeys
(5)Grandma sent 423 cherries. There are 178 more cherries than strawberries. How many strawberries are there? Answer □
Answer: 245strawberries
(6)In the pond, 756 goldfish are swimming. There are 289 more goldfish than frogs. How many frogs are there? Answer □
Answer: 467frogs






