Add and subtract problems

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Year 2 · Maths

Add and subtract problems: I can choose add or take away to solve problems.

1. Sam has 5 apples. Mei has 3 apples.

   How many altogether? Altogether means add.

   5 + 3 = 8

   Picture: Sam: 5 apples and Mei: 3 apples. The groups are pushed together and counted. 8 apples altogether.

2. Kofi has 9 cupcakes.

   4 are taken away. How many are left?

   Left means take away. 9 − 4 = 5

   Picture: Kofi: 9 cupcakes. 4 cupcakes are crossed out, and 5 are left. 5 left.

3. Your turn: Zara has 6 stars. Tom has 2. How many altogether? Add or take away?

   Picture: Zara: 6 stars and Tom: 2 stars.

   Choose one:

   • + add
   • − take away

   Answer

   The answer: + add

   We add. 6 + 2 = 8 stars.

   Picture: Zara: 6 stars and Tom: 2 stars. The groups are pushed together and counted. 8 stars altogether.

Words to know

altogether:

All of them put together. It means add.

left:

What is still there after some are taken away.

how many more:

How much bigger one amount is than another. We take away to find it.

millilitres:

We measure water and juice in millilitres. We write ml.

change:

The money you get back when you pay more than the price.