Addition Word Problems

Joyful Mathematics 2 — Add Our Points. One- and two-step "how many in all" stories connect directly with the point-combining activities in this chapter.

• To spot addition keywords: in all, altogether, total, more, together.
• To turn a story into a number sentence.
• To solve one-step and two-step addition stories up to 100.

Verbal: Circle words like in all, altogether, total, together, more — they usually mean add.

Symbolic: Story → number sentence: "18 apples, 24 more apples" → 18 + 24 = ?

Level 1 — Keywords for "put together"

in all, altogether, total, together, gets more → usually addition.

Level 2 — One-step stories

"Class A has 32 books, Class B has 27 books. Books in all?" → 32 + 27 = 59.

Level 3 — Two-step stories

Add three amounts one after another, keeping a running total.

A shop had 38 pencils. It received 27 more. How many pencils in all?

Step 1 — Identify keyword: "in all" → add
Step 2 — Add: 38 + 27 = 65
Answer: 65 pencils

• "Total" tells you to add or subtract?
• Priya picked 15 flowers, then 12 more. How many in all?
• A class has 24 boys and 21 girls. Total students?

Stretch: A school collected 18, 24, and 15 books from three classes. How many books in total?

Revision tip: Underline the keyword in every word problem before choosing the operation.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Addition Word Problems.