Math worksheet featuring addition and subtraction word problems for students to solve.

Let’s solve each problem one by one. We’ll decide whether to add or subtract, then do the math carefully.

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Problem 1:

49 fourth graders + 35 fifth graders + 76 sixth graders = total students

We are combining groups → add

Step-by-step:

49 + 35 = 84
84 + 76 = 160

✔ Total students = 160

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Problem 2:

Truck holds up to 11,256 gallons
Already has 9,365 gallons
How many more needed? → We find the difference → subtract

11,256 - 9,365

Let’s compute:

Start from right:
6 - 5 = 1
5 - 6 → can’t do, borrow → 15 - 6 = 9 (and 2 becomes 1)
1 - 3 → can’t do, borrow → 11 - 3 = 8 (and 1 becomes 0)
0 - 9 → can’t do, borrow → 10 - 9 = 1 (and 1 becomes 0)
0 - 0 = 0 (but we had borrowed earlier — actually let’s write it out properly):

Better way:

```
11256
- 9365
-------
```

6 - 5 = 1
5 - 6 → borrow → 15 - 6 = 9 (tens place now 4)
4 - 3 = 1
1 - 9 → borrow → 11 - 9 = 2 (thousands place was 1, now 0 after borrow)
0 - 0 = 0 (ten-thousands)

Wait — let me line it up:

11256
- 9365
________
Start from right:

Units: 6 - 5 = 1
Tens: 5 - 6 → borrow from hundreds → 15 - 6 = 9; hundreds digit becomes 1 (was 2)
Hundreds: 1 - 3 → borrow from thousands → 11 - 3 = 8; thousands digit becomes 0 (was 1)
Thousands: 0 - 9 → borrow from ten-thousands → 10 - 9 = 1; ten-thousands becomes 0
Ten-thousands: 0 - 0 = 0

So result is 1891

Check: 9365 + 1891 = ?

9365 + 1800 = 11165
11165 + 91 = 11256 ✔

✔ Gallons needed = 1,891

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Problem 3:

Total participants: 835,478
Finishers: 50,386
Unable to complete = total - finishers → subtract

835,478 - 50,386

Compute:

835478
-50386
______

Align:

835478
- 50386
________

Start from right:

8 - 6 = 2
7 - 8 → borrow → 17 - 8 = 9; tens digit becomes 3 (was 4)
3 - 3 = 0
5 - 0 = 5
3 - 5 → wait, no — let's align properly:

Actually:

835478
- 50386
________

Write as:

835478
- 050386 ← pad with zero for alignment
_________

Now:

Units: 8 - 6 = 2
Tens: 7 - 8 → borrow → 17 - 8 = 9; hundreds digit 4 becomes 3
Hundreds: 3 - 3 = 0
Thousands: 5 - 0 = 5
Ten-thousands: 3 - 5 → borrow → 13 - 5 = 8; hundred-thousands 8 becomes 7
Hundred-thousands: 7 - 0 = 7

Result: 785,092

Check: 50,386 + 785,092 = ?

50,386 + 785,092 = 835,478 ✔

✔ Participants unable to complete = 785,092

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Problem 4:

Male runners: 20,144
Female runners: 17,038
Total runners who completed → combine → add

20,144 + 17,038

Add:

4 + 8 = 12 → write 2, carry 1
4 + 3 + 1 = 8
1 + 0 = 1
0 + 7 = 7
2 + 1 = 3

→ 37,182

Check: 20,144 + 17,038

20,000 + 17,000 = 37,000
144 + 38 = 182
Total: 37,182 ✔

✔ Total runners = 37,182

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Problem 5:

Asian elephant: 11,950 pounds
African elephant: 13,220 pounds
Difference → bigger minus smaller → subtract

13,220 - 11,950

Compute:

13220
-11950
______

0 - 0 = 0
2 - 5 → borrow → 12 - 5 = 7; tens digit 2 becomes 1
1 - 9 → borrow → 11 - 9 = 2; hundreds digit 2 becomes 1
1 - 1 = 0
1 - 1 = 0

Wait — better:

13220
- 11950
_______

Units: 0 - 0 = 0
Tens: 2 - 5 → borrow from hundreds → 12 - 5 = 7; hundreds digit 2 becomes 1
Hundreds: 1 - 9 → borrow from thousands → 11 - 9 = 2; thousands digit 3 becomes 2
Thousands: 2 - 1 = 1
Ten-thousands: 1 - 1 = 0

Result: 1,270

Check: 11,950 + 1,270 = 13,220 ✔

✔ Difference in weight = 1,270 pounds

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Final Answer:

1. (a) add → 160 students
2. (b) subtract → 1,891 gallons of oil
3. (b) subtract → 785,092 participants
4. (a) add → 37,182 runners
5. (b) subtract → 1,270 pounds