Math Words and Ideas
Subtraction Situations
(page 1 of 3)
In Grade 3, you solve subtraction problems involving
different types of subtraction situations.
One subtraction situation is removing. You solved many
removal problems in Grade 2 and will solve more this year.
Removing an Amount
Gina had 165 famous people stickers. She sold 32 of them
at a yard sale. How many stickers does Gina have left?
Here are the ways that some students solved this problem.
Elena solved this problem by drawing 165 stickers and
crossing out 32 of them. The remaining stickers are the
answer.
Elena’s Solution
165 ! 32 " 133
Benjamin solved this problem by starting at 165 on the
number line and subtracting back 32. The number he
landed on is the answer.
Benjamin’s Solution
30
2
133 135
165
165 ! 32 " 133
How would you solve this problem?
26 twenty-six
Math Words and Ideas
Subtraction Situations
(page 2 of 3)
In Grade 3, you also solve subtraction problems involving
other types of subtraction situations—finding the unknown
part and comparing.
Finding the Unknown Part of a Whole
Last week the Ruiz family drove to Loon Lake. Before leaving
home, they set the trip meter of their car to 0. When they
stopped for lunch at George’s Restaurant, the trip meter
read 87 miles. When they reached Loon Lake, the meter
read 156 miles. How far did they travel from the restaurant
to the lake?
In this subtraction problem, the unknown part is the
distance from the restaurant to the lake.
87
?
Home
George’s
Restaurant
Loon
Lake
0
87
156
twenty-seven
27
Math Words and Ideas
Subtraction Situations
(page 3 of 3)
Comparing Two Amounts
The rainbow snake at the nature center is 53 inches long.
The boa constrictor is 84 inches long. How much longer
is the boa constrictor?
In this subtraction problem, the lengths of two snakes
are compared to find out how much longer one is than
the other.
rainbow snake
53 inches long
?
boa constrictor
84 inches long
28 twenty-eight