Math Drills
Difference Word Problems Review
2Word 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)At the ranch, there are 27 rabbits. There are 38 fewer rabbits than frogs. How many frogs are there? Answer □
Answer: 65frogs
(2)In the school flower bed, 36 sunflowers are blooming. There are 14 fewer tulips than sunflowers. How many tulips are blooming? Answer □
Answer: 22tulips
(3)At the greengrocer, 275 melons are lined up. There are 186 more watermelons than melons. How many watermelons are there? Answer □
Answer: 461watermelons
(4)In the park flower bed, 35 tulips are blooming. There are 16 more sunflowers than tulips. How many sunflowers are blooming? Answer □
Answer: 51sunflowers
(5)In the library, there are 537 books. There are 259 more books than notebooks. How many notebooks are there? Answer □
Answer: 278notebooks
(6)In the meadow, there are 24 rabbits. There are 12 more rabbits than bears. How many bears are there? Answer □
Answer: 12bears
