Worksheet: Addition and Subtraction Equations

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In this worksheet, we will practice writing and solving one-step subtraction equations in questions including word problems.

Q1:

Ethan’s mother gave him coloring pencils for his birthday. He lost 43 of them at the park. If he has 40 left, write and solve an equation to find how many coloring pencils Ethan’s mother gave him.

  • A π‘₯ βˆ’ 4 3 = 4 0 , π‘₯ = 3
  • B π‘₯ + 4 3 = 4 0 , π‘₯ = 3
  • C π‘₯ + 4 3 = 4 0 , π‘₯ = 8 3
  • D π‘₯ βˆ’ 4 3 = 4 0 , π‘₯ = 8 3
  • E π‘₯ βˆ’ 4 3 = 4 0 , π‘₯ = 1 2 6

Q2:

If π‘₯ βˆ’ 2 = 9 , what is the value of π‘₯ ?

Q3:

Over a week, Madison practiced on her flute for 5 hours. This was 3 hours longer than she practiced the previous week. First write an equation for the number of hours ( 𝑀 ) that she spent practicing the previous week, and then solve it.

  • A 𝑀 5 = 3 1 5 ,
  • B 5 = 𝑀 βˆ’ 3 8 ,
  • C 5 = 𝑀 + 3 8 ,
  • D 5 = 𝑀 + 3 2 ,
  • E 5 = 𝑀 βˆ’ 3 2 ,

Q4:

Natalie has 12 cows in her farm, which is 5 cows fewer than her neighbor’s farm. Write a subtraction equation to determine the number of cows 𝑐 that her neighbor has, and then solve it.

  • A 𝑐 1 2 = 5 , 60 cows
  • B 1 2 = 𝑐 + 5 , 7 cows
  • C 1 2 = 𝑐 βˆ’ 5 , 7 cows
  • D 1 2 = 𝑐 βˆ’ 5 , 17 cows
  • E 1 2 = 𝑐 + 5 , 17 cows

Q5:

Daniel went to the supermarket and bought a bar of chocolate for $3.03. When he returned home, he found he had $4.61 left. Write an equation to find how much money Daniel had before going to the supermarket, and then solve it.

  • A 3 . 0 3 βˆ’ π‘š = 4 . 6 1 , π‘š = 7 . 6 4
  • B π‘š + 3 . 0 3 = 4 . 6 1 , π‘š = 1 . 5 8
  • C π‘š βˆ’ 3 . 0 3 = 4 . 6 1 , π‘š = 1 . 5 8
  • D π‘š βˆ’ 3 . 0 3 = 4 . 6 1 , π‘š = 7 . 6 4

Q6:

A submarine was at a depth of 237 meters below sea level and then it rose up 70 meters. Calculate the new depth of the submarine.

Q7:

There were 28 bees in a beehive and 42 bees collecting pollen from nearby flowers. How many bees were there altogether?

Q8:

A town needed more houses. The council built 194 houses in the town and 692 houses in a nearby village. How many houses were built in total?

Q9:

Given that 5 + 𝑛 = βˆ’ 5 , find the value of 𝑛 .

Q10:

Engy has 85 stamps. She gave 25 to her friend. How many stamps does Engy have left?

Q11:

William is playing a board game. From START, he moves 10 spaces forward. In his next turn, he moves 6 spaces back. How many spaces away from START is he now?

Q12:

In 2016, Mississippi and Georgia had a total of 21 electoral votes. If Mississippi had 6 electoral votes, solve the equation 6 + 𝑔 = 2 1 to find the number of electoral votes Georgia had 𝑔 .

Q13:

Solve for π‘₯ π‘₯ + 4 . 8 = βˆ’ 8 . 9 : .

Q14:

A group of students are meeting together to study. Four students have to leave early. If 11 of them would remain, write an equation to find how many students are meeting, and then solve it.

  • A π‘₯ βˆ’ 4 = 1 1 , π‘₯ = 7
  • B π‘₯ + 4 = 1 1 , π‘₯ = 7
  • C π‘₯ + 4 = 1 1 , π‘₯ = 1 5
  • D π‘₯ βˆ’ 4 = 1 1 , π‘₯ = 1 5
  • E π‘₯ βˆ’ 4 = 1 1 , π‘₯ = 2 6

Q15:

Solve 1 7 + π‘₯ = βˆ’ 5 7 .

  • A βˆ’ 4 7
  • B 4 7
  • C 6 7
  • D βˆ’ 6 7
  • E 3 7

Q16:

James is saving money for a gift that costs $71. Given that he already saved $54, write and solve an equation that represents the amount of money he still needs to save.

  • A 5 4 + π‘₯ = 7 1 , $125
  • B 7 1 + π‘₯ = 5 4 , $125
  • C 7 1 + π‘₯ = 5 4 , $17
  • D 5 4 + π‘₯ = 7 1 , $17
  • E 5 4 + π‘₯ = 7 1 , $19

Q17:

David is 14 years older than Matthew. If David is 29 years old, write an equation to determine Matthew’s age, and then solve it.

  • A 1 4 + π‘₯ = 2 9 , 43 years old
  • B 2 9 + π‘₯ = 1 4 , 43 years old
  • C 2 9 + π‘₯ = 1 4 , 15 years old
  • D 1 4 + π‘₯ = 2 9 , 15 years old
  • E 1 4 + π‘₯ = 2 9 , 13 years old

Q18:

A diver began his ascent to the surface. He ascended 20 meters to his next decompression stop and must ascend another 32 meters to return to the surface. Write and solve a subtraction equation to find the diver’s original depth before he started ascending.

  • A π‘₯ βˆ’ 2 0 = 3 2 , π‘₯ = 1 2
  • B π‘₯ + 2 0 = 3 2 , π‘₯ = 1 2
  • C π‘₯ + 2 0 = 3 2 , π‘₯ = 5 2
  • D π‘₯ βˆ’ 2 0 = 3 2 , π‘₯ = 5 2
  • E π‘₯ βˆ’ 2 0 = 3 2 , π‘₯ = 8 4

Q19:

Mariam is 6 years older than her sister, and her sister is 23 years old. Write an equation which describes this situation using π‘š to represent Mariam’s age.

  • A 6 π‘š βˆ’ 6 = 2 3
  • B π‘š + 6 = 2 3
  • C π‘š + 2 3 = 6
  • D π‘š βˆ’ 6 = 2 3
  • E 6 π‘š + 6 = 2 3

Q20:

Samar walked 15 yards to the supermarket and then went back 12 yards, in the opposite direction, to the bakery. Write a subtraction equation to find the total number of yards she walked, and then solve it.

  • A π‘₯ βˆ’ 1 2 = 1 5 , 3 yd.
  • B π‘₯ βˆ’ 1 5 = 1 2 , 3 yd.
  • C π‘₯ βˆ’ 1 5 = 1 2 , 27 yd.
  • D π‘₯ βˆ’ 1 2 = 1 5 , 27 yd.
  • E π‘₯ βˆ’ 1 2 = 1 5 , 42 yd.

Q21:

Olivia is 7 inches shorter than her brother. Given that Olivia is 52 inches tall, write a subtraction equation that shows her brother’s height, and then solve it.

  • A π‘₯ βˆ’ 7 = 5 2 , 45 inches
  • B 5 2 βˆ’ π‘₯ = 7 , 45 inches
  • C 5 2 βˆ’ π‘₯ = 7 , 59 inches
  • D π‘₯ βˆ’ 7 = 5 2 , 59 inches
  • E π‘₯ βˆ’ 7 = 5 2 , 111 inches

Q22:

A school has 59 students. 51 of them have paid to go on a school trip. How many students are not going on the trip?

Q23:

If I was 9 years old in 1998, how old was I in 2009?

Q24:

The value of π‘₯ in the equation π‘₯ + 𝑦 = βˆ’ 8 is an integer greater than 4 and less than 9. Determine all the possible values of 𝑦 .

  • A βˆ’ 1 3 , βˆ’ 2 , βˆ’ 1 , βˆ’ 1 6
  • B βˆ’ 3 , βˆ’ 2 , βˆ’ 1 , 0
  • C βˆ’ 3 , βˆ’ 1 4 , βˆ’ 1 5 , 0
  • D βˆ’ 1 3 , βˆ’ 1 4 , βˆ’ 1 5 , βˆ’ 1 6
  • E βˆ’ 1 3 , βˆ’ 1 4 , βˆ’ 1 5 , βˆ’ 3

Q25:

The diagram can be used to solve the equation 𝑠 βˆ’ 2 3 = 9 6 .

What is the missing number in the diagram?

What is the value of 𝑠 ?

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