Word problems for second grade

In second-grade maths we meet problems written in words for the first time:

"Anna had 7 sweets. She ate 3. How many were left?"

The problem is not written in numbers. It is written as a little story. You have to read it and decide whether to add or subtract.

Child at a desk reading a short word problem

Three steps for every problem

Step 1 — Read. Twice. Slowly. Understand what the problem is about. Step 2 — Pick the numbers. Which numbers are in the problem? What is happening to them? Step 3 — Calculate and answer. Write the answer in a full sentence with a unit.

Example

"There are 12 children in class. 5 are boys. How many are girls?"

Numbers: 12 and 5.
Action: we take the boys away, the girls remain → subtraction.
Calculation: 12 − 5 = 7.
Answer: There are 7 girls in the class.

How to choose the operation

Signal words help:

"altogether", "in total", "another" → addition (+).
"left", "less", "fewer", "difference" → subtraction (−).

But the safest thing is to picture it: try drawing the situation or imagining it. Are things being added, or are things being taken away?

What we will learn

In this topic:

Addition word problems within 100.
Subtraction word problems within 100.
Two-step word problems — first one operation, then another.

Summary

A word problem = a problem in words.
Three steps: read, pick numbers, calculate and answer.
Signal words help you choose + or −.
Always answer in a sentence with a unit.