What Are Addition Word Problems?
Word problems help us use math in real life!
When we see a story with numbers, we need to figure out what math to use. For addition word problems, we look for words like "total," "altogether," "sum," or "combined" that tell us we should add numbers together.
How to Solve Addition Word Problems
1 Read the problem carefully
2 Find the numbers you need to add
3 Write the addition equation and solve it
4 Check if your answer makes sense!
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: The Toy Store
Emma bought 156 stickers on Monday and 238 stickers on Wednesday. How many stickers did she buy altogether?
We need to add the stickers from both days: 156 + 238
Let's add them step by step:
100 + 200 = 300
50 + 30 = 80
6 + 8 = 14
Now add them together: 300 + 80 + 14 = 394 stickers
Example 2: The School Field Trip
There are 127 students in Grade 2 and 185 students in Grade 3 going on a field trip. How many students are going in total?
We need to add the students from both grades: 127 + 185
Let's use the column method:
127
+185
-----
7 + 5 = 12 (write 2, carry 1)
2 + 8 + 1 = 11 (write 1, carry 1)
1 + 1 + 1 = 3
The total is 312 students
Parent Tips 🌟
- Make it real: Use everyday situations like grocery shopping or counting toys to create simple word problems.
- Highlight key words: Help your child spot words like "total" or "altogether" that signal addition is needed.
- Draw it out: Encourage drawing pictures or using objects to visualize the problem before solving it with numbers.