Solving Comparison Word Problems with Addition and Subtraction

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:22 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to solve word problems that compare two groups of objects, using addition and subtraction within 20.

Video Resource

Comparison word problems | Addition and subtraction within 20 | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 3:22
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Comparison word problems
  • Addition and subtraction within 20
  • Using drawings to solve problems
  • Identifying key information in a word problem

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify comparison word problems.
  • Students will be able to solve comparison word problems using addition and subtraction within 20.
  • Students will be able to represent word problems with drawings.
  • Students will be able to explain their problem-solving strategies.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about word problems. Briefly review addition and subtraction within 10. Explain that today, they will be learning how to solve special word problems that compare two groups of things.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video: 'Comparison word problems | Addition and subtraction within 20 | Early Math | Khan Academy'. Encourage students to follow along and pause the video to try solving the problems themselves.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Work through the examples from the video again, pausing to ask students questions about each step. Emphasize the importance of drawing pictures or using objects to visualize the problem. Discuss the connection between 'how many more' and subtraction.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet containing similar comparison word problems. Encourage them to use drawings or objects to help them solve the problems. Circulate the room to provide support and answer questions.
  • Wrap-up (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts from the lesson. Ask students to share their strategies for solving comparison word problems. Emphasize the importance of reading the problem carefully and understanding what it is asking.

Interactive Exercises

  • Object Comparison
    Give students a set of objects (e.g., blocks, crayons). Divide them into two groups and ask them to determine how many more objects are in one group than the other.
  • Story Time Word Problems
    Read a short story that contains a comparison word problem. Have students work together to identify the problem and solve it.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a word problem?
  • What does it mean to compare two groups of things?
  • How can drawing a picture help you solve a word problem?
  • What words in a word problem tell you to subtract?

Skills Developed

  • Problem-solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Visual representation
  • Addition and subtraction fluency

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Tom has 7 apples. Sara has 3 apples. How many more apples does Tom have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 2:

There are 9 birds on a tree. 2 birds fly away. How many fewer birds are there now?

Correct Answer: 2

Question 3:

Lily has 6 stickers. Ben has 4 stickers. How many more stickers does Lily have than Ben?

Correct Answer: 2

Question 4:

A blue car has 8 wheels. A red car has 4 wheels. How many fewer wheels does the red car have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 5:

Mia has 5 balloons. Noah has 10 balloons. How many more balloons does Noah have?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 6:

There are 12 flowers in the garden. 6 are red. How many are NOT red?

Correct Answer: 6

Question 7:

John has 11 toy cars. Emily has 5 toy cars. How many more toy cars does John have?

Correct Answer: 6

Question 8:

A big book has 15 pages. A small book has 7 pages. How many fewer pages does the small book have?

Correct Answer: 8

Question 9:

Kate has 4 cookies. Liam has 8 cookies. How many more cookies does Liam have than Kate?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 10:

There are 13 ducks in a pond. 3 ducks walk away. How many fewer ducks are in the pond now?

Correct Answer: 3

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Sam has 8 crayons. Ben has 2 crayons. Sam has ____ more crayons than Ben.

Correct Answer: 6

Question 2:

There are 10 kids playing. 4 kids go home. There are ____ fewer kids playing now.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

Lisa has 7 dolls. Maria has 3 dolls. Lisa has ____ more dolls than Maria.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 4:

A tall tree has 12 birds. A short tree has 5 birds. The short tree has ____ fewer birds.

Correct Answer: 7

Question 5:

I have 9 toy cars and my friend has 4. I have ____ more cars than my friend.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 6:

We saw 15 butterflies, then 8 flew away. We saw ____ fewer butterflies in the end.

Correct Answer: 8

Question 7:

Benny has 11 marbles. Tony has 6 marbles. Benny has _____ more marbles than Tony.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 8:

A long stick is 14 inches. A short stick is 9 inches. The short stick is _____ inches shorter.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 9:

Jenny has 5 stickers. Myah has 12 stickers. Myah has _____ more stickers than Jenny.

Correct Answer: 7

Question 10:

There were 16 frogs, but 7 hopped away. There are _____ fewer frogs now.

Correct Answer: 7

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13). CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

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