Subtraction Word Problems

In pairs, write a problem whose numerical solution can be found using the computation .

Problems posted in PRIME2 August Institute:

  1. You have 5 sticks left in your pack of gum that you bought for 75 cents (2 for 1) with 8 sticks in it. Your friend reminds you that you owe him a pack How much of your original pack do you have left after paying your debt?
  2. The banana bread recipe calls for cup of flour. You are going to make of a serving. How much flour will you use?
  3. I bought lb. of roast been, but I only needed lb. How much roast beef is left?
  4. I had of a gallon of Kool Aid. I drank of the Kool Aid directly from the container but did not backwash because I’m practicing politeness. How much Kool Aid is left in the container?
  5. There was bag of sugar left in the pantry. The baker used half of that amount. How much sugar was left in the bag?
  6. Danielle and David had 4 packs of Reeses P.B. cups, containing 2 cups per pack. Then they brought packs to school one day. They ate half of what they started with. What fraction were they left with?
  7. You are baking cookies and the recipe says to use of a cup of brown sugar. However, you are only making of the recipe. How much brown sugar do you need?
  8. I walk of a mile to school. My friend lives of a mile from me on the way to school. Hoq far do we get to walk together to school?
  9. In a class of 24 students, of a class owned cell phones. of the cell phone students used their phones to TWEET. Their angry teacher confiscated their phones. How many students kept their phones.
  10. Alex painted of the mural. Genese painted of the remaining . How much of the mural still needs to be painted?
  11. of the team is at practice today. of the team went on the field. What fraction of the team is on the bench?
  12. of the class brought back their permission slips for the field trip, but only of those students brought them back signed. What fraction of the students brought back unsigned field trip slips?
  13. Jesse ran of a mile. Tom ran of a mile? How much farther did Jesse run than Tom?
  14. Amy had of a cup of sugar. She used of a cup for her banana cream pie recipe. How much sugar was left?
  15. The day before school started, Ryan worked for of a day. Jennifer only worked for of the day. How much longer did Ryan work?
  16. Diego went out to eat at a taqueria of a mile away from his home. After his meal, he met his friend Carmen from the taqueria in the direction of his home. How far away from his home does Carmen live?
  17. In Ms. Koehler’s class of her class of 32 eats the school lunch. If of the class doesn’t like the school lunch they are eating, how many of the students who are eating the lunch do like it?