Adding and subtracting (age 10+) · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Multi-step addition and subtraction problems

Mathematics · Addition & Subtraction · ages 10-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________
  1. What is 2,450,000 - 1,200,000?

    • 1,350,000
    • 1,250,000
    • 1,150,000
    • 3,650,000
  2. Calculate 1,250,000 + 750,000.

    Answer: ______________

  3. A shop orders 3,000,000 nails, sells 1,200,000 nails, then orders 500,000 more. Which operations do you need, in order?

    • Add, then subtract, then add
    • Subtract, then add, then subtract
    • Add, then add, then subtract
  4. In a two-step problem, you can add first and then use that answer to subtract the next number.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. Which method fits best for adding 15 and 27?

    • Written column method
    • Calculator
    • Mental math
  6. Karl says a calculator is always the best method for multi-step problems. Is Karl right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. A library has 2,350,000 books. It gains 150,000, then loses 90,000. How many books are left?

    Answer: ______________

  8. A city had 6,325,400 people. Then 458,900 people moved in, and later 612,300 people moved away. How many people live in the city now?

    • 6,172,000
    • 6,784,300
    • 7,396,600
  9. A theme park sold 2,340,000 tickets in summer. After two rainy days, they refunded 185,000 tickets. Malik calculates 2,340,000 + 185,000. What did he do wrong?

    • He used the wrong starting number
    • He should have subtracted the refunds instead of adding them
    • He should have added the refunds twice
  10. City A has 3,750,000 people and City B has 2,680,000. How many more people live in City A?

    • 1,170,000
    • 970,000
    • 1,070,000
    • 6,430,000
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_M1tnXqmYbn-s1

Answer key

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

Multi-step addition and subtraction problems W1-mt_M1tnXqmYbn-s1

  1. 1,250,000 · 2,450,000 - 1,200,000 = 1,250,000.
  2. 2000000 · 1,250,000 + 750,000 = 2,000,000.
  3. Add, then subtract, then add · Ordering nails adds to the stock, selling nails subtracts, and ordering again adds. Follow the story in order: add, subtract, add.
  4. True · That's exactly how many two-step problems work: the first answer becomes part of the next step.
  5. Mental math · These numbers are small and simple, so you can add them in your head without writing anything down.
  6. False · Karl is wrong: mental or written methods often win, and the choice needs justifying.
  7. 2410000 · 2,350,000 + 150,000 - 90,000 = 2,410,000.
  8. 6,172,000 · First add the people who moved in: 6,325,400 + 458,900 = 6,784,300. Then subtract the people who moved away: 6,784,300 - 612,300 = 6,172,000.
  9. He should have subtracted the refunds instead of adding them · A refund means tickets are given back, so the total goes down. Malik needed to subtract, not add.
  10. 1,070,000 · 3,750,000 - 2,680,000 = 1,070,000.
Worksheet · LightMySky