Complete addition and subtraction sentences
Key notes :
🎇Understanding Addition and Subtraction Sentences |
Addition Sentences: An equation that shows the sum of two or more numbers.
- Example: 7+5=12
Subtraction Sentences: An equation that shows the difference between two numbers.
- Example: 15−8=7
🎇Recognizing Missing Elements |
Identifying the Missing Part: Understand whether the missing part is a number (addend, minuend, subtrahend) or the result (sum, difference).
- Example: __+9=14 (Missing addend)
- Example: 18−__=9(Missing subtrahend)
🎋Solving for Missing Numbers |
Addition Sentences:
To find the missing addend: Subtract the known addend from the sum.
- Example: __+9=14 → 14−9=5
To find the sum: Add the known addends.
- Example: 7+8=__→ 7+8=15
Subtraction Sentences:
To find the missing minuend: Add the difference to the subtrahend.
- Example: __−6=4 → 4+6=10
To find the missing subtrahend: Subtract the difference from the minuend.
- Example: 12−__=5 → 12−5=7
To find the difference: Subtract the subtrahend from the minuend.
- Example: 18−9=__→ 18−9=9
🎇 Checking Your Work |
Verification: After solving, substitute the number back into the equation to ensure it makes the sentence true.
- Example: For __+9=14, after finding 5 as the missing number, check that 5+9=14.
🎍 Understanding the Relationship Between Addition and Subtraction |
Inverse Operations: Recognize that addition and subtraction are inverse operations, which means they can be used to check each other.
- Example: If 8+7=15, then 15−7=8
🧨Word Problems to Practice |
Example 1: “Sarah has 23 apples. She buys some more apples, and now she has 37. How many apples did she buy?”
- Solution: 23+__=37, so she bought 37−23=14 apples.
Example 2: “John had some money. After spending $35, he has $65 left. How much money did he have initially?”
- Solution: __−35=65 so he initially had 65+35=100 dollars.
🧨Problem-Solving Strategies |
- Use a Number Line: Visualize addition or subtraction by moving forward or backward on a number line.
- Estimate: Before solving, estimate the answer to see if your final answer is reasonable.
- Draw a Picture: Sometimes drawing a simple diagram or using counters can help visualize the problem.
🎉Word Problem Connections |
Application in Word Problems: Use addition and subtraction sentences to solve real-life problems, enhancing understanding and relevance.
Example: “If you score 23 points in the first half of a game and score 18 points in the second half, how many points did you score in total?”
- Solution: 23+18=__so the total score is 41 points.
Learn with an example
Fill in the missing number.
68,094 – __________ = 60,755
- Find the number that makes the subtraction number sentence true.
- 68,094–?=60,755
- Subtract 60,755 from both sides:
- 68,094–? – 60,755=60,755 – 60,755
- 7,339–?=0
- Now, find the number that goes in the blank space. Remember, when a number is subtracted from itself, the difference is zero. The number in the blank space must be 7,339.
- The missing number is 7,339.
Fill in the missing number.
________+ 48,995 = 89,668
- Decide which number makes the addition number sentence true. You can subtract to find the answer.
- Subtract: 89,668 – 48,995 = 40,673
- The missing number is 40,673.
🗼 Fill in the missing number.

- Find the number that makes the subtraction number sentence true.
- 3,009 – ? = 2,915
- Subtract 2,915 from both sides:
- 3,009 – ? – 2,915 = 2,915 – 2,915
- 94 – ? = 0
- Now, find the number that goes in the blank space. Remember, when a number is subtracted from itself, the difference is zero. The number in the blank space must be 94.
- The missing number is 94.
Let’s practice!