2nd Grade Word Problem Types
2.OA.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving
situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in
all positions, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to
represent the problem.
Change Plus
The situation in these word problems is: there is a change that takes place causing the
need for addition.
Example Problem #1: Greg has 5 pencils. His friend Mark gives him 8 more pencils. How
many pencils does Greg have now?
Equation: 5+8=?
Example Problem #2: Greg has some pencils. His friend Mark gives him 8 more pencils.
Greg now has 13 pencils. How many pencils did Greg have to start with?
Equation: ?+8=13
Example Problem #3: Greg has 5 pencils. His friend Mark gave him some more pencils.
Greg now has 13 pencils. How many pencils did his friend Mark give him?
Equation: 5+?=13
Change Minus
The situation in these word problems is: there is a change that takes place causing the
need for subtraction.
Example Problem #1: Sally has 9 cookies. She gives her friend Megan 4 cookies. How
many cookies does Sally have now?
Equation: 9-4=?
Example Problem #2: Sally has some cookies. She gives her friend Megan 4 cookies. Sally
now has 5 cookies. How many cookies did Sally have to start with?
Equation: ?-4=5
Example Problem #3: Sally has 9 cookies. She gives her friend Megan some cookies. Sally
now has 5 cookies. How many cookies did Sally give to Megan?
Equation: 9-?=5
Collection
The situation in these word problems is: there are two existing groups of the same thing.
They are a collection. There is not a change that takes place. You are simply looking at
groups of similar items, but not comparing them.
Example Problem #1: Fred has 6 flowers in his front yard and 9 flowers in his back yard.
How many flowers does Fred have at his house?
Equation: 6+9=?
Example Problem #2: Fred has 6 flowers in his front yard and some flowers in his
backyard. Fred has 15 total flowers. How many flowers are in Freds backyard?
Equation: 6+?=15
Example Problem #3: Fred has some flowers in his front yard and 9 flowers in his
backyard. Fred has 15 total flowers. How many flowers are in Freds front yard?
Equation: ?+9=15
Comparison
The situation in these word problems is: there are two groups of something and you must
compare the difference between the two groups.
Example Problem #1: Karla has 4 apples. Jasmine has 7 apples. How many more apples
does Jasmine have than Karla?
Equation: 7-4=?
Example Problem #2: Karla has 4 apples. Jasmine has some apples. Karla has 3 less apples
than Jasmine. How many apples does Jasmine have?
Equation: 4+3=?
Example Problem #3: Karla has some apples. Jasmine has 7 apples. Jasmine has 3 more
apples than Karla. How many apples does Karla have?
Equation: 7-3=?
Two-Step Problem
The situation in these word problems is: the end question cannot be solved until a part of
the first problem is figured out.
Example Problem #1: There were some kittens and 5 puppies at the pet shop. There are
now 13 animals in the pet shop. 4 new kittens were born on Saturday. How many kittens
are there in all?
Equations: Step One: ?+5=13 There were 8 kittens to start with at the pet shop.
Step Two: 4+8=? There are 12 kittens total at the pet shop now.
Example Problem #2: Jose wanted to bake 4 chocolate chip cookies, 7 sugar cookies and
some oatmeal cookies for his friends. He has 19 friends to make cookies for. How many
oatmeal cookies will Jose need to bake?
Equation(s): 4+7=?
Jose will bake 11 chocolate chip and sugar cookies.
19-11=? Jose will need to bake 8 oatmeal cookies.
OR 4+7+?=19
