Graphs and Comparison Stories
Number Stories
Two-Step Number Stories
Rounding and Expanded Form
Adding/ Subtracting Number Line or Base 10
100
How many more blue balloons than orange balloons? 
3 balloons
100
At a water park, the Small Slide is 32 feet high. The Tall Slide is 51 feet high. How much shorter is the Small Slide than the Tall Slide?
Use number model(s)
51 - 32 = ?
32 + ? = 41
? = 19 feet shorter
100
Max has 7 pairs of shoes. Then Max got 4 more pairs. He gave me 3 pairs of shoes. How many does he have now?
Number model
7 + 4 = 11 11-3=8
7 + 4 - 3 = 8 pairs of shoes
100
Round 23 to the nearest ten
20; 3 is less than 5 so we round down
100
Use a number line or base ten to show and solve:
14 + 17 = ?
31
200
Fish A is 14 inches long. Fish B is 6 inches long. How many inches longer is Fish A than Fish B? Use a number model to help you.
8 inches
200
Fish H is 15 inches longer than Fish D. If Fish D is 17 inches long, how long is Fish H?
17 + 15 = 32 inches long
200
I had $17. I lost $5 on the way to school. I then found $8 in my car on the way home. How much money do I have now?
17 - 5 = 12, 12 + 8 = 20
17 - 5 + 8 = $20
200
Round 48 to the nearest ten
50; 8 is greater than 5 so we round up
200
Use a number line or base ten to show and solve:
48 - 23 = ?
25
300
How many students cycle to school?
5 students
300
Fish E is 29 feet long. Fish F is 12 feet shorter. How long is Fish F?
29 - 12= 17 feet long
300
Jennifer started with 17 cards. Amy found 9 and gave them to Jennifer. But, Jennifer felt bad so she gave Amy 2. How many cards does Jennifer have now?
Number model
17 + 9 = 26 26-2=24
17 + 9 - 2 = 24 cards
300
What is 569 in expanded form?
500 + 60 + 9
300
Use a number line or base ten to show and solve:
37 + ? = 52
15
400
How many total Tulips and Roses in the garden? Write the number model with the answer.
6 (tulips) + 3 (roses) = 9 flowers
400
Sue had 43 marbles. She gave 12 to Joan. How many marbles does Sue have left?
Use number model(s)
43-12= ?
12 + ? = 43
? = 31 marbles left
400
John received 24 valentines from his class. A teacher added 5 more to his valentine bag. By the end of the day, he ended up eating 8! How many valentines is he going home with?
number model
24 + 5 = 29. 29-8 = 21
24 + 5 - 8 = 21 valentines
400
Round 85 to the nearest ten
90; 5 = 5 so we round up
400
Use a number line or base ten to show and solve:
53 - ? = 36
17
500
A toothbrush costs $21. Toothpaste costs $13 less than the toothbrush. How much does the toothpaste cost? Use a number model to help you.
$21-$13= $8
500
Peter had 23 marshmallows. He ate 11 of the marshmallows. How many marshmallows does he have left?
23 - 11 = 12 marshmallows
500
Luke started with 14 sticks. On his way to school he found 4 more sticks. On his way back home he found 6 more. How many sticks does he have at the end of the day?
14 + 4 = 18, 18 + 6 = 24
14 + 4 + 6 = 24 sticks
500
What is 4310 in expanded form?
4000 + 300 + 10 + 0
500
Use a number line or base ten to show and solve:
33 - 17 = ?
16