Addition and Subtraction Problems — Victorian Year 4 Maths
Word problems that need two or three steps of adding and subtracting, with bar models, money and working backwards. One subtopic and 20 questions with worked solutions, aligned to VC2M4N09.
Addition and Subtraction Problems in Victorian Year 4
This topic puts addition and subtraction to work in real situations. Students read a story, decide which actions mean add and which mean subtract, write the steps as number sentences and solve them in order, using bar models to see the parts and the whole.
Its one subtopic is Multi-Step Addition and Subtraction Problems, set in canteens, libraries, sports clubs and fundraisers, with numbers up to 1000 and whole-dollar amounts. Addition and Subtraction Problems is one of the 20 topics in Victorian Year 4 Maths and belongs to the Number strand. It comes under Victorian Curriculum code VC2M4N09, about modelling practical problems with number sentences. The same skills carry into the Money topic and into problems with multiplication and division.
Subtopics
Addition and Subtraction Problems: common questions
How do you solve a multi-step word problem?
Read the whole story, find the question, then turn each action into add or subtract: words such as joined, more and altogether mean add, and spent, left and gave away mean subtract. Work through the steps in order and check that the answer fits the story.
Can you show a worked example?
A school had \(\$250\), spent \(\$94\) on balls and then raised \(\$65\) at a cake stall. Step 1: \(250 - 94 = 156\). Step 2: \(156 + 65 = 221\). The school now has \(\$221\).
What is a bar model?
A bar model is a long bar for the whole amount, split into smaller bars for the parts. It shows whether you know the whole and need a part, which means subtract, or know the parts and need the whole, which means add.
How do you work backwards to find a starting amount?
Undo each step in reverse order. If Leo spent \(\$28\) and then had \(\$47\) left, add back what he spent: \(\$28 + \$47 = \$75\), so he started with \(\$75\). A common mistake is to subtract again instead of undoing the step.
Which curriculum codes cover Addition and Subtraction Problems in Victorian Year 4?
The subtopic comes under Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code VC2M4N09, about modelling practical problems, including money problems, with number sentences and explaining what the answer means in the situation.