Create your own
teaching resources

Sign up for a free account to try! It takes less than 20 seconds

Create free account
Teacherbot 08 Nov, 17:08:57

To solve a two-step word problem involving addition and subtraction, follow these steps:

  1. Read the problem carefully and identify the key information and what is being asked.
  2. Write down the given information and assign variables if necessary.
  3. Determine the first step needed to solve the problem. If it involves addition, add the given numbers together. If it involves subtraction, subtract the given numbers.
  4. Write down the result of the first step.
  5. Determine the second step needed to solve the problem. If it involves addition, add the result from the first step to another given number. If it involves subtraction, subtract the result from the first step from another given number.
  6. Write down the final result.
  7. Check your answer by re-reading the problem and making sure your solution makes sense.

Here’s an example:

Problem: John has 5 apples. He gives 2 apples to his friend and then buys 3 more apples. How many apples does John have now?

  1. Read the problem: John starts with 5 apples, gives away 2, and then buys 3 more. We need to find out how many apples he has now.
  2. Write down the given information: John starts with 5 apples, gives away 2, and buys 3 more. Let’s assign the variable “x” to represent the number of apples John has now.
  3. Determine the first step: John starts with 5 apples and gives away 2, so we need to subtract 2 from 5. 5 - 2 = 3.
  4. Write down the result: John has 3 apples after giving away 2.
  5. Determine the second step: John has 3 apples and buys 3 more, so we need to add 3 to 3. 3 + 3 = 6.
  6. Write down the final result: John has 6 apples now.
  7. Check the answer: John started with 5 apples, gave away 2, and bought 3 more, so he should have 6 apples. The answer is correct.

Therefore, John has 6 apples now.

You 08 Nov, 17:24:17

Now I want to create 3 different versions of this. One version that is simpler, one version that is the same, and one version that is more complex. Format the output in 3 nice sections.

Teacherbot 08 Nov, 17:24:17

Simpler Version: Problem: John has 3 apples. He gives away 1 apple. How many apples does John have now?

Solution: 1. Read the problem: John starts with 3 apples and gives away 1. We need to find out how many apples he has now. 2. Write down the given information: John starts with 3 apples and gives away 1. Let’s assign the variable “x” to represent the number of apples John has now. 3. Determine the first step: John starts with 3 apples and gives away 1, so we need to subtract 1 from 3. 3 - 1 = 2. 4. Write down the result: John has 2 apples after giving away 1. 5. There is no second step in this problem. 6. Write down the final result: John has 2 apples now. 7. Check the answer: John started with 3 apples and gave away 1, so he should have 2 apples. The answer is correct.

Therefore, John has 2 apples now.

Same Version: Problem: John has 5 apples. He gives away 2 apples and then buys 3 more apples. How many apples does John have now?

Solution: 1. Read the problem: John starts with 5 apples, gives away 2, and then buys 3 more. We need to find out how many apples he has now. 2. Write down the given information: John starts with 5 apples, gives away 2, and buys 3 more. Let’s assign the variable “x” to represent the number of apples John has now. 3. Determine the first step: John starts with 5 apples and gives away 2, so we need to subtract 2 from 5. 5 - 2 = 3. 4. Write down the result: John has 3 apples after giving away 2. 5. Determine the second step: John has 3 apples and buys 3 more, so we need to add 3 to 3. 3 + 3 = 6. 6. Write down the final result: John has 6 apples now. 7. Check the answer: John started with 5 apples, gave away 2, and bought 3 more, so he should have 6 apples. The answer is correct.

Therefore, John has 6 apples now.

More Complex Version: Problem: John has 10 apples. He eats 3 apples, gives away half of the remaining apples, and then buys 5 more apples. How many apples does John have now?

Solution: 1. Read the problem: John starts with 10 apples, eats 3, gives away half of the remaining apples, and buys 5 more. We need to find out how many apples he has now. 2. Write down the given information: John starts with 10 apples, eats 3, gives away half of the remaining apples, and buys 5 more. Let’s assign the variable “x” to represent the number of apples John has now. 3. Determine the first step: John starts with 10 apples and eats 3, so we need to subtract 3 from 10. 10 - 3 = 7. 4. Write down the result: John has 7 apples after eating 3. 5. Determine the second step: John gives away half of the remaining apples, which is 7/2 = 3.5 apples. Since we can’t have half an apple, we round down to the nearest whole number. 7 - 3 = 4. 6. Write down the result: John has 4 apples after giving away half of the remaining apples. 7. Determine the third step: John has 4 apples and buys 5 more, so we need to add 5 to 4. 4 + 5 = 9. 8. Write down the final result: John has 9 apples now. 9. Check the answer: John started with 10 apples, ate 3, gave away half of the remaining apples, and bought 5 more, so he should have 9 apples. The answer is correct.

Therefore, John has 9 apples now.