Choosing the operation
Write the answer in the box.
I add 25 to a number and the sum is 40. What number did I start with?
I subtract 13 and have 24 left. What number did I start with?
Write the answer in the box.
22 is added to a number and the
sum is 30. What number did I
begin with?
I subtract 14 from a number and
end up with 17. What number
did I start with?
I add 16 to a number and the
total of the two numbers is 30.
What number did I begin with?
When 26 is subtracted from a
number, the difference is 14.
What is the number?
After adding 22 to a number the
total is 45. What is the number?
What number must you subtract
from 19 to find a difference of 7?
I start with 29 and take away a
number. The difference is 14.
What number did I subtract?
35 is added to a number and the
total is 60. What is the number?
I increase a number by 14 and
the total is 30. What number did
I start with?
After taking 17 away from a
number I am left with 3. What
number did I start with?
© Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010]
✩
15
37
Paul starts with 50¢ but spends
some money in a shop. He goes
home with 18¢. How much did
Paul spend?
Sue starts out with 23¢ but is
given some money by her aunt.
Sue then has 50¢. How much
was she given?
Alice gives 20¢ to charity. If she
started with 95¢, how much has
she have left?
Jane has a 32-ounce bottle
of orange soda. She drinks
12 ounces. How many
ounces does she have left?
A box contains 60 pins and then
some are added so that the new
total is 85. How many pins have
been added?
A tower is made up
of 30 blocks. 45 more
are put on the top. How
many blocks are in the
tower now?
0 2 1 4

2
6
4
0

3
1

9
Choosing the operation ✩ 1

Write the answer in the box. 2 2

3
4
0
I add 25 to a number and the sum is 40. What number did I start with? 15
5
I subtract 13 and have 24 left. What number did I start with? 37 6
7
Write the answer in the box. 7 8
9

6
22 is added to a number and the Paul starts with 50¢ but spends 10
sum is 30. What number did I some money in a shop. He goes 11
begin with?
8 home with 18¢. How much did
32¢ 12

8
Paul spend?
I subtract 14 from a number and 13
end up with 17. What number Sue starts out with 23¢ but is 14
did I start with?
31 given some money by her aunt. 15
Sue then has 50¢. How much 16
27¢
I add 16 to a number and the
total of the two numbers is 30.
What number did I begin with?
14
was she given?

Alice gives 20¢ to charity. If she

1 17
18
started with 95¢, how much has 19
When 26 is subtracted from a she have left? 75¢ 5 20
number, the difference is 14. 21
What is the number? 40 Jane has a 32-ounce bottle 22
of orange soda. She drinks 23
After adding 22 to a number the
total is 45. What is the number? 23
12 ounces. How many
ounces does she have left?
20 oz 9 24
25
What number must you subtract 26
from 19 to find a difference of 7? 12 27

I start with 29 and take away a

0 28
29
number. The difference is 14. A box contains 60 pins and then 30
15

2
What number did I subtract? some are added so that the new 31
total is 85. How many pins have 32
35 is added to a number and the 25
total is 60. What is the number?
25 been added? 33

I increase a number by 14 and

3 34
35
the total is 30. What number did 36
I start with?
16 A tower is made up
of 30 blocks. 45 more
37

6
are put on the top. How 38
After taking 17 away from a many blocks are in the 39
number I am left with 3. What tower now? 40
number did I start with?
20 75 41

72
42
139
3
8

1 to solve each problem. If

4
1

2 between addition and subtraction

Children must choose
5

they make an error, have them substitute their answer in the problem to help them
understand why it is incorrect.

© Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010]