Subtraction Word Problems

Year 5 MathsAddition and Subtraction6 pages

About this worksheet

Eight Year 5 subtraction word problems in three parts over five pages, with a full answer page. Part 1 has one-step questions: the gap between two stadium crowds, the distance left on a drive from Bristol to Bath, and a book total found by working backwards. Part 2 has two-step problems, such as the money still needed for an otter sanctuary. Part 3 ends with a freight train unloading timber at three stations and a claim to test. Each problem has an estimate box, working space and an answer line.

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Curriculum objectives covered

Number - addition and subtraction

โ€œSolve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and whyโ€

Questions 4 to 8 each need two or three subtractions, and question 3 needs pupils to add to work backwards.

Number - addition and subtraction

โ€œUse rounding to check answers to calculations and determine, in the context of a problem, levels of accuracyโ€

Every problem starts with an estimate to the nearest 1,000, and the estimate for question 8 lands exactly on 15,000.

Number - addition and subtraction

โ€œAdd and subtract whole numbers with more than 4 digits, including using formal written methods (columnar addition and subtraction)โ€

The instructions ask for column subtraction in each working box, with numbers up to 145,000.

What's inside this worksheet

Part 1, One-Step Problems

Three problems. Pupils find the difference between 54,280 and 38,695 fans, the distance left after 7,865 m of a 12,450 m drive, and how many books were in storage before 14,680 were sold.

Part 2, Two-Step Problems

Three problems where two amounts come off a total: ยฃ25,000 for an otter sanctuary, 80,000 marbles in a museum tank and 92,500 kg of recycling.

Part 3, Multi-Step and Reasoning Challenges

A train starts with 145,000 kg of timber and unloads at three stations. Then pupils decide whether a manager is right that more than 15,000 of 100,000 stickers are left.

Answers

The estimate, the working and the answer for all eight problems. The sticker question works out at 14,690, so the claim is false.

How teachers use it

Estimate first

Insist on the estimate box before any working. On question 8 the estimate is exactly 15,000, which shows pupils why the exact answer matters.

Bar model support

For question 3, draw a bar split into books sold and books left. Pupils who try to subtract usually see that they need to add once the bar is up.

Compare methods

Ask pairs to compare their working for question 4. Some take off one donation at a time, others add both donations first, and both reach ยฃ9,675.

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