--- title: "Addition and subtraction word problems" description: "Solve addition and subtraction word problems within 10 using objects or drawings" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-word-problems-mt_yJmvUCCym7 source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-word-problems-mt_yJmvUCCym7.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **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`. # Addition and subtraction word problems Solve addition and subtraction word problems within 10 using objects or drawings Subject: Mathematics · Area: Addition & Subtraction · Ages 4 to 6 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-word-problems-mt_yJmvUCCym7 ## Ready when they can - Solve 'There are 6 apples, 2 are eaten, how many left?' using counters - Solve 'add to' and 'take from' result-unknown problems - Solve 'put together/take apart' problems with total unknown ## Lesson: Solving word problems A word problem tells a tiny story with numbers. Read it slowly. Then act it out with fingers or counters. *(drawing: 6 apples. 2 get eaten. How many apples are left?)* **Example.** Mia has 4 red blocks and 3 blue blocks. She wants to know how many blocks she has in all. She counts all of them together: 4, 5, 6, 7. Seven blocks in all. **Tip.** Some words are clues. 'Left' or 'gave away' means subtract. 'In all' or 'more come' means add. **Recap.** Read the story, then add or subtract to find the answer. ## Practice 17 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Representing Addition and Subtraction](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/representing-addition-and-subtraction-mt_PgsHGYJMH-) ## Opens up - [Using objects to model real problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/using-objects-to-model-real-problems-mt_fLOkq-HfPB) - [Real-World to Maths Connections](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/real-world-to-maths-connections-mt_IM1G_7QzTa) - [Early Word Problems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/early-word-problems-mt_VAWV_l7J0D)