PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY ON SUM AND

DIFFERENCE OF TWO NUMBERS

Leizel C. Caballero
COMMONWEALTH CENTRAL SCHOOL
AURORA WEST DISTRICT

Target Competency:
M4NS-Ie-45.5: Solves multi-step routine and non-routine problems
involving multiplication and addition or subtraction using appropriate
problem solving strategies and tools.

Grade Level:
Grade 3 to Grade 6

DESCRIPTION:

This learning resource material intends to help the teachers as well

as the learners in solving routine and non-routine problems on sum and
difference of two numbers. It provides helpful strategy for the teacher in
teaching mathematics problem solving particularly on sum & difference of
two numbers.

OBJECTIVE:
Solve routine and non-routine problems involving sum and difference
of two numbers

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

Problem:

The sum of 2 numbers is 27 their difference is 11. What are the

numbers?
 Solution:

The problem requires us to find the two numbers whose sum is

27 and whose difference is 11.
Normally, pupils will resort to guess and check strategy. They
will try several pair of numbers and check if their sum & difference
agree with the conditions in the problem. This strategy is sometimes
time consuming especially if pupils’ logical skills are not fully
developed.

Here is a strategy, I usually employ in solving the above

problem quickly. Since the required two numbers have difference, it
follows that one is larger and the other one is smaller.

To get the larger number, simply add the given sum (27) &
difference (11) and divide the result by 2.

Larger Number:
sum + difference = result ÷ 2
27 + 11 = 38 ÷ 2 = 19

To get the smaller number, simply subtract the given difference (11)
from the given sum (27) and divide the result by 2.

Smaller Number:
sum – difference = result ÷ 2
27 – 11 = 16 ÷ 2 = 8

To check if our answers are correct, let us go back to the conditions

given in the problem.

Condition 1. The sum of two numbers is 27. So, 19 + 8 = 27 which

clearly satisfies the given condition.

Condition 2. Their difference is 11. So, 19 – 8 = 11 which also

satisfies the other given condition.

Therefore, the two numbers asked in the problem are 19 and 8.

 In summary, mathematical problems involving Sum and Difference of
two numbers can easily be solved using the above strategy with ease.

The keyword is: To find the larger number, add the sum &
difference and divide the result by 2; To find the smaller
number, subtract the given difference from the given sum and
divide the result by 2.

MORE EXAMPLES:

1. Find two numbers whose sum is 148 and whose difference is 52.

Solution:

To find the larger number we will add the given sum & difference and
divide the result by 2.

Larger Number:
sum + difference = result ÷ 2
148 + 52 = 200 ÷ 2 = 100

To find the smaller number, we will subtract the given difference

from the given sum and divide the result by 2.

Smaller Number:
sum – difference = result ÷ 2
148 – 52 = 96 ÷ 2 = 48

To check if our answers are correct, let us go back to the conditions

given in the problem.

Condition 1. The sum of two numbers is 148. So, 100 + 48 = 148

which clearly satisfies the given condition.

Condition 2. Their difference is 52. So, 100 – 48 = 52 which also

satisfies the other given condition.
 Therefore, the required two numbers are 100 & 48. You can check
these answers on your own.

2. The sum of two consecutive odd numbers is 136. Find the

numbers.

Solution:

The given sum is 136 and the implied difference is 2 since they are
consecutive odd numbers.

Larger Number: 136 + 2 = 138 ÷2 = 69

Smaller Number: 136 – 2 = 136 ÷2 = 67

Therefore, the two odd consecutive numbers are 67 & 69.

Application problems to real life situation.

1. Anton has 12 more marbles than his friend Aldrin. Together

they have 40 marbles. How many marbles each boy has?
Solution:
The given sum is 40.
The given difference is 12.

Anton’s marbles (larger number)

40 + 12 = 52 ÷ 2 = 26
Aldrin’s marbles (smaller number)
40 – 12 = 28 ÷ 2 = 14

Therefore, Anton has 26 marbles and Aldrin has 14.

 2. Ashley has P150.00. She bought some school supplies and
saved the remaining money. If she saved P12.00 more than
what she spent, how much money did she spend and save?
Solution:
The given sum is P150.00.
The given difference is P12.00.

Amount saved (larger number)

P150.00 + P12.00 = P162.00 ÷ 2 = P81.00
Amount spent (smaller number)
P150.00 – P12.00 = P138.00 ÷ 2 = P69.00

Therefore, Ashley spent P69.00 and saved P81.00.

Note to the user of this LR:

It is necessary that before you use this strategy, you have to
ascertain first that the problem is on the concept of sum and difference.