Let’s solve each of these 2-step word problems one by one, explaining the steps clearly.
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Problem 1:
> 5 people are on the bus. 5 more get on and 2 get off. How many are on the bus now?
Step 1: Start with 5 people.
Step 2: Add 5 more → 5 + 5 =
10
Step 3: Subtract 2 who get off → 10 - 2 =
8
✔ Answer: 8
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Problem 2:
> 9 people are on the bus. 6 more get on and 3 get off. How many are on the bus now?
Step 1: Start with 9.
Step 2: Add 6 → 9 + 6 =
15
Step 3: Subtract 3 → 15 - 3 =
12
✔ Answer: 12
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Problem 3:
> A bus has 10 people on it. Half get off and 8 get on. How many are on the bus now?
Step 1: Start with 10.
Step 2: Half get off → 10 ÷ 2 =
5 (so 5 remain)
Step 3: Add 8 → 5 + 8 =
13
✔ Answer: 13
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Problem 4:
> 20 children are on a bus. Half get off and 9 get on. How many are on the bus now?
Step 1: Start with 20.
Step 2: Half get off → 20 ÷ 2 =
10 (so 10 remain)
Step 3: Add 9 → 10 + 9 =
19
✔ Answer: 19
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Problem 5:
> A bus has 40 seats. Half of the seats are taken. 3 more people get on the bus. How many seats are empty?
Step 1: Total seats = 40
Step 2: Half are taken → 40 ÷ 2 =
20 seats taken → so
20 seats empty initially
Step 3: 3 more people get on → they fill 3 more seats → so empty seats decrease by 3 → 20 - 3 =
17
✔ Answer: 17
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Problem 6:
> A bus has 20 seats. Half of the seats are empty. 5 people get off the bus. How many seats are now empty?
Step 1: Total seats = 20
Step 2: Half are empty → 20 ÷ 2 =
10 empty seats → so
10 seats are taken
Step 3: 5 people get off → that means 5 seats become empty → so add 5 to empty seats → 10 + 5 =
15
✔ Answer: 15
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
8
2.
12
3.
13
4.
19
5.
17
6.
15
These are all solved using two-step operations as instructed — typically an addition/subtraction or halving/doubling followed by another operation.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of two step addition and subtraction word problem worksheet.
