Find the Unknown
Word Problems
Addition Fact that Helps
Find the Total
Comparing
Count on or count back?
100

6 - 0 = ?

6 - 0 = 6

100

Mel has 2 pennies. 

She gets some more. 

Now she has 7 pennies. 

How many pennies did Mel get? 

Use RDW to solve.

2 + ? = 7

2 + 5 = 7

Mel got 5 more pennies. 

100

Subtract.

Write the addition + sentence that helps.

9 - 5 = ?


9 - 5 = 4

5 + 4 = 9

100

How many total Cheeseburgers were eaten? 


11 Cheeseburgers were eaten. 

5 + 2 + 4 = 11

100

Deb has 4 pennies. 

Sara has 7 pennies. 

How many more pennies does Sara have than Deb? 

Use RDW to solve.

4 + ? = 7

7 - ? = 4

7 - 4 = ?

Sara has 3 more pennies than Deb.

100

Use your number path to count on or count back to subtract. What is the most efficient?

10 - 3 = ?

10 - 3 = 7

Counting back is the most efficient. 

10... 9, 8, 7

200

10 - 10 = ?

10 - 10 = 0

200

Katie had 9 pencils in her desk. 

She lost some. 

Now she has 5 pencils. 

How many pencils were lost? 

Use RDW to solve. 

9 - ? = 5

9 - 4 = 5

4 pencils were lost.

200

Subtract

Write the addition + sentence that helps.

9 - 3 = ?


9 - 3 = 6

3 + 6 = 9

200

How many total fruits were collected? 

There were 12 fruits collected. 

4 + 4 + 4 = 12

200

Ben has 6 dogs. 

Todd has 9 dogs. 

How many more dogs does Todd have than Ben? 

Use RDW to solve.

6 + ? = 9

9 - ? = 6

9 - 6 = 3

Todd has 3 more does than Ben. 

200

Use your number path to count on or count back to subtract. What is the most efficient?

11 - 8 = ?


11 - 8 = 3

Counting on is the most efficient. 

8... 9, 10, 11

300

10 - ? - 6

4

10 - 4 = 6

300

Zan has 10 shells. 

He gets some more. 

Now he has 15 shells. 

How many shells did Zan get? 

Use RDW to solve.

10 + ? = 15

10 + 5 = 15

Zan got 5 more shells. 

300

Subtract

Write the addition + sentence that helps.

10 - 3 = ?


10 - 3 = 7

3 + 7 = 10

300

How many total apples were sampled?

12 total apples were sampled. 

4 + 5 + 3 = 12

300

Cam has 12 crackers

Tam has 7 crackers. 

Sam has 2 crackers. 

How many more crackers does Cam have than Sam? 

Use RDW to solve. 

2 + ? = 12

12 - ? = 2

12 - 2 = ?

Cam has 10 more crackers than Sam. 

300

Use your number path to count on or count back to subtract. What is the most efficient?

12 - 8 = ?

12 - 8 = 4

Counting on is the most efficient. 

8... 9, 10, 11, 12

400

10 + ? = 17

7

10 + 7 = 17

400

Dan had 12 cars. 

He lost some. 

Now he has 7 cars. 

How many cars were lost?

Use RDW to solve. 

12 - ? = 7

12 - 5 = 7

5 cars were lost. 

400

Subtract

Write the addition + sentence that helps.

7 - 4 = ? 

7 - 4 = 3

4 + 3 = 7

400

How many total animals are in the zoo? 

4 + 2 + 7 = 13

There are 13 animals in the zoo. 

400

Jon has 8 muffins. 

Max has 4 muffins. 

Wes has 6 muffins. 

How many more muffins does Wes have than Max? 

Use RDW to solve. 

4 + ? = 6

6 - ? = 4

6 - 4 = ?

Wes has 2 more muffins than Max. 

400

Use your number path to count on or count back to subtract. What is the most efficient?

14 - 3 = ?

14 - 3 = 11

Counting back is the most efficient. 

14... 13, 12, 11

500

14 - ? = 12

2

14 - 2 = 12

500

Dan had 9 cupcakes. 

Dan made some more. 

Now there are 12 cupcakes. 

How many cupcakes did Dan make? 

Use RDW to solve. 

9 + ? = 12

9 + 3 = 12

Dan made 3 cupcakes. 


500

Subtract

Write the addition + sentence that helps.

8 - 2 = ?


8 - 2 = 6

2 + 6 = 8

500

How many toys were sold? 

6 + 4 + 3 + 4 = 17

17 toys were sold.

500

Ned has 9 dollars. 

Kit has 7 dollars. 

Baz has 3 dollars. 

How many more crayons does Ned have than Baz? 

Use RDW to solve. 

9 - ? = 3

3 + ? = 9

9 - 3 = ?

Ned has 6 more crayons than Baz.

500

Use your number path to count on or count back to subtract. What is the most efficient?

13 - 11 = ?

13 - 11 = 2

counting on is the most efficient. 

11... 12, 13