--- title: "Early word problems" description: "Solve one-step word problems involving addition and subtraction to 20, including missing-number problems" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/early-word-problems-mt_VAWV_l7J0D source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/early-word-problems-mt_VAWV_l7J0D.md retrieved: 2026-11-13 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Early word problems Solve one-step word problems involving addition and subtraction to 20, including missing-number problems Subject: Mathematics · Area: Addition & Subtraction · Ages 5 to 7 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/early-word-problems-mt_VAWV_l7J0D ## Ready when they can - Solve one-step adding and taking-away stories within 20, including zero - Find a missing start, added amount or taken-away amount in an addition or subtraction equation within 20 - Use counters or drawings to represent joining, taking away and parts of a total ## Lesson: Word problems with a missing number Read the story. Find what the question asks and use the amounts you need. Some stories give an extra number you do not need. Draw things or use counters. When groups join, add and count on. When things go away, draw the start, cross out that many and count what stays. Taking away zero leaves the same number. **Example.** Mia has 18 apples and eats 7. Draw 18 apples and cross out 7. Count the apples still there: 11. So 18 - 7 = 11. A box stands for a number you need to find. The equals sign means both sides have the same amount. In 4 + [ ] = 10, find how much to add to 4. Count on from 4 to 10, one at a time. You count 6 more, so the box holds 6. This also finds a missing part of a total. *(drawing: Each hop adds 1. Six hops show that 4 + 6 = 10.)* To find a missing start, work back from the end. Some blocks get 3 more and become 10. Remove the 3 new blocks: 10 - 3 = 7 at the start. Some blocks lose 4 and have 9 left. Put the 4 back: 9 + 4 = 13 at the start. Write this as [ ] - 4 = 9 or 9 = [ ] - 4. To find how many went away, subtract what stayed from the start. There were 16 blocks and now 10 remain. The missing amount is 16 - 10 = 6. Check: 16 - 6 = 10. Write the story as 16 - [ ] = 10 or 10 = 16 - [ ]. Check a missing number by putting it into the equation. For [ ] - 7 = 8, add the 7 taken away to the 8 left: 8 + 7 = 15. Check: 15 - 7 = 8. A starting amount of 1 cannot fit this story because there are not 7 things to take away. **Recap.** Find the missing number by reading carefully and checking your answer. *This lesson, practice bank and flashcards were written for the LightMySky dataset.* ## Practice 18 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Adding and subtracting](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/adding-and-subtracting-mt_mr_Vk7FGzK) ## Optional connections - [Addition and subtraction word problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-word-problems-mt_yJmvUCCym7) ## Opens up - [Guided Multi-Step Problem Solving](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/guided-multi-step-problem-solving-mt_O_UOTiMvT_) - [Mental and written addition and subtraction](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/mental-and-written-addition-and-subtraction-mt_wzAZ8qFDc4) - [Two-step word problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/two-step-word-problems-mt_yTWxkzzoOZ)