Addition and subtraction word problems
Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators, using visual models and equations
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1858 concepts · 9 subjects
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Teaching approaches
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1 approach
Addition and subtraction word problems means practising the idea at the table with counters or paper models and one clear check. We will demo once, then your child tries.
Materials: Paper strips or a folded circle; Pencil and labels (1/2, 1/4). Adult folds a strip into halves and labels 1/2. Child makes three fair shares (halves/quarters) and names each piece. Done: three correctly named equal parts. Stop after the fresh check; keep optional challenge for another day.
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Start practiceAddition and subtraction word problems practice
Practice key ideas from Addition and subtraction word problems.
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Learning resources
Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
Illustrative Mathematics · Practice link — not the full lesson
Boys and Girls, Variation 1
Before you open · source notes
A boys-and-girls story supports addition and subtraction word problems. Not every multi-digit algorithm.
Free, no sign-in. A teacher solution is on the same page, so use the student view with your child.
Before you openAsk the learner to choose add or subtract for the story and explain why.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public Illustrative Mathematics task page. The .html address responds HTTP 308 to this URL. An anonymous GET of this URL on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt. Where a teacher solution is present, it is on the same page as the student task; this check did not find a separate locked student view. An adult can use the student view section and should not read a solution aloud. Advertising was not observed in the fetched HTML text; that is not a browser, device, or ad-free guarantee. This is a paper or discussion task, not an automatically marked interactive game. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. Diagrams on the page use missing or filename-only alt text, so they are not an accessible image equivalent. Accessibility still depends on an adult describing the picture.
Illustrative Mathematics. “Boys and Girls, Variation 1.” Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. External task; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute it.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — link only
Check understanding
- A jug contains 3/4 litre of juice; 2/4 litre is poured out — how much remains?
- Two pieces of ribbon are 2 3/8 and 1 5/8 inches — what is their total length?
- Draw a fraction model to represent and solve a fraction word problem
“If your child reads that one section of a nature trail is 3/8 km and another is 5/8 km, can they work out the total distance without a calculator?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Procedural
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Domain
- Fractions
- Age range
- Ages 9–11
Standards