One- & Two-Step Word Problems Within 100 | Grade 2 Math

Grade 2 Math ›  Addition & Subtraction Within 100  ›  Lesson 14

Grade 2 Math — Addition & Subtraction Story Problems

One- & Two-Step Word Problems Within 100

Learn to solve one-step and two-step word problems within 100 using addition and subtraction. Read math stories carefully, decide what is known and unknown, draw bar models, and write equations that match the situation.

Practice adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, including problems where the starting amount or a change is missing. This lesson has 25 step-by-step worked examples, 30 practice problems, and a 15-question test with hidden answer keys.

One-step word problemsTwo-step word problemsUnknown numbersBar modelsCompare quantitiesRead · Plan · Solve · Check

🎯 What You Will Learn

Read the story carefully
Identify the numbers, the actions, the question, and the missing quantity.

Draw or model the situation
Use part–whole bars, comparison bars, pictures, and simple change diagrams.

Choose one or two steps
Decide what to find first and then what to do with that result.

Write, answer, and check
Use equations with a box for an unknown, include answer units, and verify that the answer makes sense.

For parents & teachers — standards alignment: This lesson targets CCSS 2.OA.A.1: addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step situations involving adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in different positions. It supports CCSS 2.NBT.B.5 by using place-value strategies within 100. Texas TEKS 2.4(C) also expects one-step and multi-step addition/subtraction word problems; its full statewide range extends to 1,000, while this particular lesson intentionally works within 100. These references describe mathematical alignment, not an assertion that all states use the same standards.

🧠 Key Vocabulary

word problem
A math question told as a story about quantities or changes.

one-step problem
A story you can answer with one addition or subtraction equation.

two-step problem
A story that needs two connected calculations; the first result helps with the second.

unknown (□)
The number we need to find; it may be the start, change, total, part, or difference.

whole and parts
A complete amount and the smaller amounts that combine to make it.

compare / difference
Look at how much larger or smaller one amount is than another.

bar model
A diagram with bars showing a whole, parts, or a difference.

check
Use the opposite operation, another method, or the story to test your answer.

📖 Read · Think · Plan · Solve · Check

A story problem gives information in words. Your job is to make a mathematical plan that fits what actually happened. You do not choose an operation from one keyword alone.

1. ReadWhat happened in the story?

2. ThinkWhat do we know? What is missing?

3. PlanDraw a model and choose the operations.

4. SolveWrite equations and include units.

5. CheckDoes the answer fit the story?

Important: A two-step question usually has a useful middle amount. Find that amount first, then use it to answer the final question. Not every story with two numbers needs two operations.

🟦 Model a One-Step Problem with a Bar

Story: A box has 42 stickers. There are 27 star stickers and some heart stickers. How many are heart stickers?

The whole is 42. One part is 27. The missing part is the number of heart stickers.

Whole: 42 stickers

All stickers

42

Parts

27 stars□ hearts

27 + □ = 42   →   42 − 27 = 15

The total bar is made of two parts: 27 star stickers and 15 heart stickers.

Why subtraction? We know the whole and one part. We subtract the known part to find the missing part. Answer: 15 heart stickers.

🟩 Model a Two-Step Problem

Story: Tori had 28 shells. She found 17 more, then gave 12 to a friend. How many shells does she have now?

Notice the two changes: she found shells, then gave away shells. Work in that order.

Start28 shells

+17→

After finding45 shells

−12→

At the end33 shells

Step 1: 28 + 17 = 45   |   Step 2: 45 − 12 = 33

Find the middle amount first, then use it to answer the question.

Ask yourself: If I only calculated 28 + 17, would I have answered the question? No — Tori also gave away 12 shells. The second step is necessary.

⚖️ Compare Two Amounts

Story: Ava has 46 stickers and Max has 28. How many more stickers does Ava have?

“How many more?” asks about the difference, not the total. Both bars begin together so we can see the extra part.

Ava

46

Max + gap

28□ more

28 + □ = 46   →   46 − 28 = 18

Ava has 18 more stickers. The gap between the bars shows the difference.

🔎 Find an Unknown in Different Positions

The missing number is not always at the end of an equation. Read the story to decide what the box represents.

Missing result

There are 34 birds. Then 12 arrive. How many now?

34 + 12 = □   →   □ = 46

Missing change

There were 34 birds. Now there are 46. How many arrived?

34 + □ = 46   →   □ = 12

Missing start

Some birds were there. Then 12 arrived, making 46. How many were there first?

□ + 12 = 46   →   □ = 34

Missing part

There are 46 birds: 34 robins and some sparrows. How many sparrows?

34 + □ = 46   →   □ = 12

🧭 Which Operations Fit the Story?

Words such as more can describe adding or comparing. Use the relationships between quantities to decide.

Situation	What to ask	Example model
Joining / adding to	Are groups combined or does an amount grow?	27 + 16 = □
Taking from	Is something removed from a starting amount?	63 − 21 = □
Parts and whole	Do I know the whole and need a part?	18 + □ = 47
Comparing	How much greater or smaller is one amount?	54 − 39 = □
Two connected steps	What amount must I find before the final question?	29 + 17 = 46; 46 − 12 = 34
Unknown start	Can I undo the changes from the ending?	□ + 14 − 9 = 52

On a small screen, swipe the table sideways to read all three columns.

Do not trust a keyword alone. “Lia has 12 more than Sam” describes a comparison, while “Lia gets 12 more” describes a change. A correct equation depends on the full story.

🌟 25 Worked Examples

Read the story, name the unknown, and try your own model before opening Show solution. The examples move from one-step problems to two connected steps, comparisons, unknown starting amounts, and error analysis.

1Put together: find the total

A book fair sold 24 books in the morning and 13 books in the afternoon. How many books were sold altogether?

Show solutionHide solution

The question asks for the total from two groups. We add, because both groups belong in the same whole.

Write the equation: 24 + 13 = □. Add tens: 20 + 10 = 30. Add ones: 4 + 3 = 7.

Combine 30 + 7 = 37. Check: 37 − 13 = 24.

Answer: 37 books sold

2Take away: find what remains

A teacher has 53 markers in a box. The teacher gives 18 markers to students. How many markers are still in the box?

Show solutionHide solution

The markers given to students are taken away from the amount in the box. This is subtraction.

Write 53 − 18 = □. Subtract 10 first: 53 − 10 = 43. Then subtract 8: 43 − 8 = 35.

There are 35 markers left. Check: 35 + 18 = 53.

Answer: 35 markers left in the box

3Part–part–whole: find a missing part

A box contains 68 buttons. Of these, 27 are blue and the rest are red. How many are red?

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The 68 buttons are the whole. The 27 blue buttons are one known part; the red buttons are the missing part.

Use 27 + □ = 68. To find the missing part, subtract: 68 − 27 = (68 − 20) − 7 = 48 − 7 = 41.

The box has 41 red buttons. Check: 27 + 41 = 68.

Answer: 41 red buttons

4Add to: find the unknown change

There were 26 students in an art club. After new students joined, there were 44 students. How many joined?

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The start is 26, the end is 44, and the change is unknown. Draw a box for the change.

Write 26 + □ = 44. Subtract to find the missing amount: 44 − 26 = 18.

18 students joined. Check: 26 + 18 = 44.

Answer: 18 students who joined

5Take from: find the unknown change

A bin held 61 balls. Some balls were taken out, leaving 39. How many were taken out?

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The bin started with 61 balls and finished with 39. The number removed is unknown.

Use 61 − □ = 39. The removed part is 61 − 39 = 22.

22 balls were taken out. Check: 39 + 22 = 61.

Answer: 22 balls taken out

6Add to: find the unknown start

Maya had some stickers. Her aunt gave her 18 more. Now she has 47. How many stickers did she have first?

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The story gives the change (+18) and the end (47), but not the starting amount.

Write □ + 18 = 47. Work backward: 47 − 18 = 29.

Maya started with 29 stickers. Check: 29 + 18 = 47.

Answer: 29 stickers at the start

7Compare: how many more?

Ava has 45 beads. Leo has 32 beads. How many more beads does Ava have?

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We are comparing two amounts. We need the difference between 45 and 32, not the combined total.

Draw two bars with the same starting point. The extra part of Ava’s bar is 45 − 32. Subtract: 45 − 32 = 13.

Ava has 13 more beads. Check: 32 + 13 = 45.

Answer: 13 more beads for Ava

8Compare: find the smaller amount

Mia has 58 shells, which is 16 more shells than Max has. How many shells does Max have?

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“Mia has 16 more” tells us Mia has the larger amount. The question asks for Max’s smaller amount.

Write □ + 16 = 58. Subtract: 58 − 16 = 42.

Max has 42 shells. Check: 42 + 16 = 58.

Answer: 42 shells for Max

9Compare: find the larger amount

Nina read 37 pages. Theo read 14 more pages than Nina. How many pages did Theo read?

Show solutionHide solution

Nina’s 37 pages are the smaller amount. Theo read 14 additional pages.

Write 37 + 14 = □. Add 10 to reach 47; then add 4 to reach 51.

Theo read 51 pages. Check: 51 − 14 = 37.

Answer: 51 pages for Theo

10Take from: find the unknown start

Some crayons were in a box. After 23 crayons were handed out, 41 remained. How many crayons were in the box at first?

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The starting amount is missing; 23 were removed and 41 remain.

Write □ − 23 = 41. Undo the subtraction by adding: 41 + 23 = 64.

The box originally held 64 crayons. Check: 64 − 23 = 41.

Answer: 64 crayons at the start

11Two steps: add, then add again

The class collected 28 cans on Monday, 17 cans on Tuesday, and 9 cans on Wednesday. How many cans in all?

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Step 1: Combine Monday and Tuesday: 28 + 17 = 45 cans.

Step 2: Include Wednesday: 45 + 9 = 54 cans.

Check: Another grouping is 28 + (17 + 9) = 28 + 26 = 54. All three days were counted once.

Answer: 54 cans

12Two steps: subtract twice

A craft store has 72 ribbons. It sells 26 before lunch and 13 after lunch. How many ribbons remain?

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Step 1: After the first sale: 72 − 26 = 46 ribbons.

Step 2: After the second sale: 46 − 13 = 33 ribbons.

Check: 26 + 13 + 33 = 72. The store has 33 ribbons left.

Answer: 33 ribbons remaining

13Two steps: add, then take away

Eli had 39 cards. He received 24 more cards, then gave 18 cards to his friend. How many cards does he have now?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: Receiving cards increases the amount: 39 + 24 = 63.

Step 2: Giving cards away decreases the amount: 63 − 18 = 45.

Answer: Eli has 45 cards. Check: 45 + 18 − 24 = 39.

Answer: 45 cards

14Two steps: take away, then add

A jar contains 65 marbles. Ava takes 19 marbles from the jar and gives them away. Then she finds 12 more marbles and puts them into the jar. How many marbles are in the jar now?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: Give away 19: 65 − 19 = 46 marbles.

Step 2: Add 12 newly found marbles: 46 + 12 = 58.

Check: 58 − 12 + 19 = 65. The final number is 58 marbles.

Answer: 58 marbles

15Two steps: combine parts, then remove

A basket holds 24 green apples and 17 red apples. A family takes 13 of these apples. How many of these apples remain in the basket?

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Step 1: Find the total apples: 24 + 17 = 41.

Step 2: Subtract the 13 taken apples: 41 − 13 = 28.

Check: 28 remaining + 13 taken = 41. There are 28 apples left.

Answer: 28 apples

16Two steps: add categories, then subtract

A library shelf has 29 storybooks and 36 science books. Students borrow 18 of these books. How many of these books are left on the shelf?

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Step 1: Count all books before borrowing: 29 + 36 = 65.

Step 2: Subtract the borrowed books: 65 − 18 = 47.

Check: 47 + 18 = 65. 47 books remain.

Answer: 47 books on the shelf

17Two steps: passengers get off and on

A bus has 46 riders. At one stop, 17 get off. Then 24 get on. How many riders are on the bus?

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Step 1: After riders get off: 46 − 17 = 29.

Step 2: After new riders get on: 29 + 24 = 53.

Answer: There are 53 riders. Check backward: 53 − 24 + 17 = 46.

Answer: 53 riders

18Two steps: compare after a change

Alma has 27 stickers and Zoe has 35 stickers. Alma earns 16 more stickers. Who has more now, and how many more?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: Alma’s new amount is 27 + 16 = 43 stickers.

Step 2: Compare her 43 with Zoe’s 35: 43 − 35 = 8.

Answer: Alma has 8 more stickers than Zoe. We compare the amounts after Alma’s change.

Answer: Alma, by 8 stickers

19Two steps: read part of a book on two days

A book has 84 pages. Sam reads 25 pages on Monday and 28 pages on Tuesday. How many pages remain unread?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: Find pages read: 25 + 28 = 53.

Step 2: Subtract from the whole book: 84 − 53 = 31.

Check: 53 read + 31 unread = 84. There are 31 pages left.

Answer: 31 unread pages

20Two steps: remove from one part

In a garden, there are 18 ladybugs and 26 butterflies. Then 13 butterflies fly away. How many of these insects remain in the garden?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: The butterflies still in the garden are 26 − 13 = 13.

Step 2: Add the ladybugs, which stayed: 18 + 13 = 31 insects.

Answer: 31 insects remain. Check: 18 + 26 − 13 = 31.

Answer: 31 insects remaining

21Two steps: find a missing category

A bakery made 64 cookies: 23 chocolate, 19 vanilla, and the rest oatmeal. How many oatmeal cookies were made?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: Count the known kinds: 23 + 19 = 42 cookies.

Step 2: Subtract from all 64: 64 − 42 = 22 oatmeal cookies.

Check: 23 + 19 + 22 = 64. The missing category has 22 cookies.

Answer: 22 oatmeal cookies

22Two steps: compare, then combine

A sports closet has 58 soccer balls. It has 17 fewer basketballs than soccer balls. How many soccer balls and basketballs does it have altogether?

Show solutionHide solution

Step 1: “17 fewer” means there are 58 − 17 = 41 basketballs.

Step 2: Combine both types: 58 + 41 = 99 balls.

Check: The types are 58 and 41, and 58 − 41 = 17. Total: 99 balls.

Answer: 99 balls

23Two steps: work backward to the unknown start

A park had some healthy flowers. Volunteers planted 18 new flowers. Later, 14 flowers wilted. Now 49 healthy flowers remain. How many healthy flowers were in the park before planting?

Show solutionHide solution

Write a story equation: □ + 18 − 14 = 49. We know the ending but not the start.

Undo Step 2: Before 14 wilted there were 49 + 14 = 63 flowers.

Undo Step 1: Before 18 were planted there were 63 − 18 = 45 flowers. Check forward: 45 + 18 − 14 = 49.

Answer: 45 flowers at the start

24Two steps: work backward with subtraction and addition

A craft club had some ribbons. The club used 16 ribbons, then bought 27 more. It finished with 63 ribbons. How many ribbons were there at first?

Show solutionHide solution

Write □ − 16 + 27 = 63. The starting amount is the unknown.

Undo Step 2: Just before buying 27 ribbons, there were 63 − 27 = 36.

Undo Step 1: Before using 16, there were 36 + 16 = 52 ribbons. Check: 52 − 16 + 27 = 63.

Answer: 52 ribbons at the start

25Two steps: spot the operation mistake

There were 39 students on the playground. 22 joined, then 17 went inside. Taylor writes 39 + 22 + 17 = 78. Is Taylor correct? Explain and find the correct amount.

Show solutionHide solution

Read each action: “Joined” adds students, but “went inside” removes students from the playground. Taylor incorrectly added the group that left.

Step 1: 39 + 22 = 61 students on the playground.

Step 2: 61 − 17 = 44 students. Check: 44 + 17 = 61. Taylor’s 78 is not the number remaining.

Answer: 44 students on the playground

🎮 Independent Practice — 30 Problems

Directions: Try each word problem without opening the key. For every problem, write an equation, show a drawing if it helps, and include the correct unit in your answer. Some problems need one step; others need two connected steps.

1. A jar has 32 beads. Harper adds 15. How many beads are there now?
2. At a fair there are 68 visitors. 29 visitors leave. How many remain?
3. A class draws 71 shapes. 38 are circles and the rest are triangles. How many triangles?
4. Leo had some pencils. He got 17 more and now has 42. How many pencils did he have before?
5. Mila has 53 badges and Jay has 36. How many more badges does Mila have?
6. A truck carries 76 boxes. It delivers some boxes and has 49 left. How many did it deliver?
7. Tara has 28 seeds. Eli has 14 more seeds than Tara. How many seeds does Eli have?
8. An aquarium now has 62 fish after 21 new fish arrived. How many fish were there before?
9. Mason collected 21 shells in the morning, 18 in the afternoon, and 13 shells the next day. How many shells altogether?
10. A café starts with 83 muffins. It sells 27, then sells 19. How many are left?
11. Olivia has 34 cards. She gets 26 more, then gives away 17. How many does she have?
12. There are 58 ducks at a pond. 24 swim away, and then 16 return. How many ducks are at the pond?
13. A shelf has 27 mystery books and 35 science books. Students borrow 18 of these books. How many of these books remain on the shelf?
14. A room has 46 red balloons and 18 blue balloons. Then 23 of these balloons pop. How many of these balloons are left?
15. A club collects 19 newspapers on Monday, 23 on Tuesday, and 28 on Wednesday. How many in all?
16. A store has 93 sandwiches. It sells 34 at breakfast and 28 at lunch. How many remain?
17. There are 37 bikes. 15 are blue and 12 are green. How many are other colors?
18. Sasha has 25 stickers and Noah has 39. Sasha earns 19 more. Who now has more, and by how many?
19. A garden has 47 tulips and 16 fewer daisies than tulips. How many tulips and daisies are there altogether?
20. A museum sells 36 tickets in the morning and 29 tickets in the afternoon. Of those ticket buyers, 17 do not arrive. How many of these ticket buyers visit the museum?
21. A book has 90 pages. Leo reads 28 on Friday and 35 on Saturday. How many pages are left?
22. Evelyn has 62 buttons. She uses 18, then gets 25 new buttons. How many now?
23. In one pen, a farmer keeps 45 hens and 32 ducks. The farmer moves 19 of these birds to another pen. How many birds stay in the first pen?
24. There were some crayons. A teacher handed out 23, then added 16. Now there are 48. How many at first?
25. Luca had some marbles. He won 21, then lost 13, and now has 56. How many did he start with?
26. Maya has 38 balloons and Nina has 51. Maya receives 20 more balloons. Who has more now and by how many?
27. A school received 26 donated board games in the first week and 37 donated board games in the second week. Then it sent 18 of these games to another school. How many donated games did the first school keep?
28. A box holds 86 erasers. 24 are given to Grade 1 and 19 to Grade 2. How many are left?
29. A zoo has 22 penguins and 35 seals. It brings in 18 more penguins. How many penguins and seals are at the zoo now?
30. A ticket office has 74 unsold tickets. It sells 18 tickets, then another 27 tickets. A student writes 74 − 18 + 27 = 83. Explain the error and find the correct number of tickets left.

🏆 Lesson Test — 15 Questions

Directions: Work independently. Identify what is unknown, write one or two equations, and give the answer in a sentence. Use the answer key only after finishing all 15 questions.

1. A school has 26 red folders and buys 19 blue folders. How many red and blue folders does it have now?
2. A box holds 81 stickers. Students use 34. How many remain?
3. Nora has 57 ribbons. 24 are striped, and the rest are plain. How many are plain?
4. Jasper has 42 coins and Iris has 29 coins. How many more coins does Jasper have?
5. A camp has 31 campers. 24 new campers arrive, then 17 campers leave. How many are there now?
6. A florist starts with 76 roses, sells 18 in the morning and 27 later. How many roses remain?
7. A school collects 36 cans on Monday, 22 on Tuesday, and 19 on Wednesday. How many cans in all?
8. At a playground, 23 children are on swings and 34 other children are on slides. Then 15 of these children go home. How many of the children remain?
9. Kai has 27 tickets, buys 36 more, and gives 25 away. How many tickets remain?
10. Team A has 48 points and Team B has 32. Team B earns 21 more points. Which team leads, and by how many?
11. A craft room has 52 blue beads and 17 fewer yellow beads than blue. How many blue and yellow beads are there altogether?
12. A library has 95 books: 38 fiction, 29 nonfiction, and the rest reference. How many reference books?
13. A museum had some visitors. 26 left, then 19 arrived. Now 58 visitors are inside. How many were there first?
14. A class had some pencils. The class received 24, then gave 16 away, and has 67 now. How many pencils at first?
15. A store starts with 84 stickers, gives away 25, then gives away 17 more. A student writes 84 − 25 + 17 = 76. Explain the mistake and find how many remain.

🔐 Complete Answer Key

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Practice Answers

Teacher note: Accept other valid equations and drawings that represent the same story correctly. Check both arithmetic and the reasoning about unknowns or changes. All questions use addition and subtraction within 100.

1. 32 + 15 = 47 beads. Add 10 to get 42, then 5 to get 47.

2. 68 − 29 = 39 visitors. Subtract 30 and add 1 back: 68 − 30 + 1 = 39.

3. 71 − 38 = 33 triangles. The two parts add to the whole: 38 + 33 = 71.

4. 25 pencils. □ + 17 = 42, so 42 − 17 = 25. Check: 25 + 17 = 42.

5. 53 − 36 = 17 badges more. Check: 36 + 17 = 53.

6. 76 − □ = 49; □ = 76 − 49 = 27 boxes. Check: 49 + 27 = 76.

7. 28 + 14 = 42 seeds. “14 more than Tara” compares Eli’s larger amount to 28.

8. □ + 21 = 62, so 62 − 21 = 41 fish at first.

9. Step 1: 21 + 18 = 39. Step 2: 39 + 13 = 52 shells.

10. Step 1: 83 − 27 = 56. Step 2: 56 − 19 = 37 muffins.

11. Step 1: 34 + 26 = 60. Step 2: 60 − 17 = 43 cards.

12. Step 1: 58 − 24 = 34. Step 2: 34 + 16 = 50 ducks.

13. Step 1: 27 + 35 = 62. Step 2: 62 − 18 = 44 books.

14. Step 1: 46 + 18 = 64. Step 2: 64 − 23 = 41 balloons.

15. Step 1: 19 + 23 = 42. Step 2: 42 + 28 = 70 newspapers.

16. Step 1: 93 − 34 = 59. Step 2: 59 − 28 = 31 sandwiches.

17. Step 1: 15 + 12 = 27 blue or green bikes. Step 2: 37 − 27 = 10 bikes of other colors.

18. Step 1: Sasha has 25 + 19 = 44. Step 2: 44 − 39 = 5. Sasha has 5 more stickers.

19. Step 1: Daisies = 47 − 16 = 31. Step 2: 47 + 31 = 78 flowers.

20. Step 1: 36 + 29 = 65 tickets sold. Step 2: 65 − 17 = 48 ticket buyers who visit the museum.

21. Step 1: 28 + 35 = 63 pages read. Step 2: 90 − 63 = 27 pages left.

22. Step 1: 62 − 18 = 44. Step 2: 44 + 25 = 69 buttons.

23. Step 1: 45 + 32 = 77. Step 2: 77 − 19 = 58 birds.

24. Equation: □ − 23 + 16 = 48. Undo the addition: 48 − 16 = 32. Undo handing out: 32 + 23 = 55 crayons. Check: 55 − 23 + 16 = 48.

25. Equation: □ + 21 − 13 = 56. Undo losing 13: 56 + 13 = 69. Undo winning 21: 69 − 21 = 48 marbles.

26. Step 1: Maya now has 38 + 20 = 58. Step 2: 58 − 51 = 7. Maya has 7 more balloons.

27. Step 1: 26 + 37 = 63 donated games. Step 2: 63 − 18 = 45 games remaining. All 63 were initially at the first school.

28. Step 1: 86 − 24 = 62. Step 2: 62 − 19 = 43 erasers.

29. Step 1: 22 + 18 = 40 penguins. Step 2: 40 + 35 = 75 animals.

30. Both sales reduce the tickets remaining. Step 1: 74 − 18 = 56. Step 2: 56 − 27 = 29 tickets. The student incorrectly added the second sale.

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Test Answers

Teacher note: Different correct solution paths receive full credit if they fit the story and reach the right answer. For the comparison and error-analysis items, require the correct interpretation of the quantities.

1. 26 + 19 = 45 folders. Combine both groups.

2. 81 − 34 = 47 stickers. Used stickers are taken away.

3. 57 − 24 = 33 plain ribbons. Plain and striped parts total 57.

4. 42 − 29 = 13 more coins. Compare the two amounts.

5. Step 1: 31 + 24 = 55. Step 2: 55 − 17 = 38 campers.

6. Step 1: 76 − 18 = 58. Step 2: 58 − 27 = 31 roses.

7. Step 1: 36 + 22 = 58. Step 2: 58 + 19 = 77 cans.

8. Step 1: 23 + 34 = 57. Step 2: 57 − 15 = 42 children.

9. Step 1: 27 + 36 = 63. Step 2: 63 − 25 = 38 tickets.

10. Step 1: Team B now has 32 + 21 = 53 points. Step 2: 53 − 48 = 5. Team B leads by 5 points.

11. Step 1: Yellow beads = 52 − 17 = 35. Step 2: 52 + 35 = 87 beads.

12. Step 1: 38 + 29 = 67 fiction and nonfiction books. Step 2: 95 − 67 = 28 reference books.

13. Equation: □ − 26 + 19 = 58. Undo the arrivals: 58 − 19 = 39. Undo the departures: 39 + 26 = 65 visitors originally.

14. Equation: □ + 24 − 16 = 67. Undo giving away 16 pencils: 67 + 16 = 83. Undo receiving 24: 83 − 24 = 59 pencils to start.

15. Both groups were given away. Step 1: 84 − 25 = 59. Step 2: 59 − 17 = 42 stickers. The student added the second group instead of subtracting it.

💡 Common Mistakes to Watch For

Choosing by one keyword
“More” does not always mean add: “how many more” asks for a difference. Check what the story compares.

Stopping after Step 1
In a two-step story, the middle amount is not always the final answer. Read the last question again.

Adding when something leaves
A group that goes away must be subtracted from the amount it leaves, not added.

Subtracting in the wrong direction
For comparisons, subtract the smaller amount from the larger, or write a missing-addend equation.

Mixing the start and the end
For unknown-start stories, work backward by undoing changes in the reverse order.

Leaving off the unit
Write “33 shells,” not just “33,” so the number answers the real question.

Family practice: Ask your child to tell the story in their own words, sketch a bar model, then explain the first step before doing any calculation.

🔗 Related Lessons

Grade 2 Lesson 13 — Mental Addition & Subtraction StrategiesChoose efficient methods for the addition and subtraction inside a word problem. Grade 2 Lesson 12 — Add Up to Four Two-Digit NumbersReview adding several groups and using convenient pairs. Grade 2 Lesson 11 — Decompose a Ten When SubtractingReview regrouping to subtract from a larger amount. Grade 2 Lesson 8 — Add Within 100 Using Place ValueWork with tens and ones in story equations. Grade 2 Lesson 9 — Subtract Within 100 Using Place ValueRepresent taking away and finding missing parts. Grade 2 Lesson 7 — Addition & Subtraction Fluency Within 20Build the fact fluency needed for story problems.

🖨️ Printable Companion

A future One- & Two-Step Word Problems Within 100 Practice Pack can include reading-and-planning cards, bar-model puzzles, part–whole diagrams, compare stories, change-unknown problems, answer-with-units templates, and full teacher answer keys.

← Lesson 13: Mental Addition & Subtraction Strategies Grade 2 Math Hub Next → Lesson 15: Add Within 1,000 Using Place Value