Multi-step addition and subtraction

Mathematics · Addition & Subtraction · ages 9-10

Name ______________________ Date ____________

A school collects bottles in two weeks and has a target. What is the first step to find out how many more bottles they need?
- Subtract Week 2 from Week 1
- Add the two weeks together
- Subtract the target from Week 1
A three-step problem might use addition in one step and subtraction in another.
Circle one: True False
Which pair of numbers is usually easiest to add in your head?
- 23,875 and 19,462
- 500 and 120
- 12,450 and 8,372
When you subtract multi-digit numbers, you should always start from the ones place, even when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit.
Circle one: True False
Which method fits best for working out 25,000 minus 20,822, and why?
- Written method, because of the regrouping across several digits
- Mental method, because 25,000 is a round number
- It doesn't matter, any method works the same for every subtraction
Here is a digit puzzle. Use the digits 7, 5, and 3, each one time, to make a two-digit number minus a one-digit number. What is the biggest answer you can get?
Answer: ______________
Tomas wants to solve 68 minus 29 in his head. Which first move makes it easiest?
- Take away 30 first, then add 1 back
- Take away 9 first, then take away 20
- Take away 2 first, then take away 7
- Add 29 to 68 first
A class starts with 500 pounds, earns 120 pounds, spends 85 pounds, then spends 60 pounds. Which calculation is the last step?
- 500 + 120
- 620 minus 85
- 535 minus 60
A charity has 15,600 pounds in donations. They receive 9,800 pounds more, then pay out 12,250 pounds for supplies. How much do they have left?
Answer: ______________
Leo solves a three-step money problem. The story says he 'spent' the last amount, but Leo adds it instead of subtracting it. Is Leo's method correct?
- No, 'spent' means subtract, not add
- Yes, because every number in a word problem should be added together
- No, but only the first amount in the story actually counts

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Multi-step addition and subtraction W1-mt_-F_Lv_apzH-s1

Add the two weeks together · First combine what's already been collected, then compare that total to the target.
True · Multi-step problems often mix operations. Read each part carefully to see which one it needs.
500 and 120 · Round, simple numbers like 500 and 120 are easy to add mentally. Numbers with lots of digits are often easier to work out on paper.
True · Yes. Starting from the ones place keeps every column lined up. If the top digit is smaller, you borrow 1 from the next column.
Written method, because of the regrouping across several digits · Even though 25,000 is round, 20,822 isn't, so the regrouping is easier to track when you write the subtraction in columns.
72 · To make the answer as big as possible, build the biggest two-digit number from two of the digits and subtract the smallest digit.
Take away 30 first, then add 1 back · 29 is very close to 30, and 30 is an easy number to subtract. Subtract 30, then add back the extra 1 you took.
535 minus 60 · After the first two steps you have 535 pounds. The last step subtracts the final 60 pounds spent.
13150 · Add the new donations first: 15,600 + 9,800 = 25,400. Then subtract what was paid out: 25,400 minus 12,250 = 13,150.
No, 'spent' means subtract, not add · 'Spent' means the amount goes down, so it should be subtracted. Always check what each word means before choosing the operation.