Common Core: 1st Grade Math : Addition within 20 to Solve Word Problems

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 1st Grade Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

Molly has \(\displaystyle 13\) pencils and Natalie has \(\displaystyle 4\). How many total pencils do they have if they put theirs together? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because Molly and Natalie are putting their pencils together, and they will have more once they put all the pencils together. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 13\) and count up \(\displaystyle 4\).

\(\displaystyle 13,14,15,16,17\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}13\\ +\ 4\end{array}}{ \ \ \space 17}\)

Example Question #2 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

Tracy picked \(\displaystyle 5\) strawberries from a bush in her yard, and \(\displaystyle 7\) strawberries from her neighbors bush. How many strawberries does she have? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because Tracy has two groups of strawberries that she is putting together into one group. When you put things together you are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 5\) and count up \(\displaystyle 7\).

\(\displaystyle 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}5\\ +\ 7\end{array}}{ \ \space 12}\)

Example Question #811 : Operations & Algebraic Thinking

Zack ate \(\displaystyle 3\) pieces of chocolate at lunch and \(\displaystyle 4\) pieces of chocolate after dinner. How many pieces did he eat? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we want to know the total number of pieces of chocolate that Zack ate, we are putting the pieces together that he had at lunch and after dinner. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 3\) and count up \(\displaystyle 4\).

\(\displaystyle 3,4,5,6,7\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}3\\ +\ 4\end{array}}{ \ \ \ \space 7}\)

Example Question #1 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

The toy store has \(\displaystyle 3\) black balls and \(\displaystyle 16\) red balls. How many total balls do they have? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we are putting the red bals and the black balls together. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 3\) and count up \(\displaystyle 16\).

\(\displaystyle 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}3\\ +\ 16\end{array}}{ \ \ \ \space 19}\)

Example Question #1 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

Lucy is packing a bag for a trip. So far she has \(\displaystyle 6\) t-shirts and \(\displaystyle 7\) pairs of shorts.  How many pieces of clothing does she have all together? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 13\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we are putting the shirts and the shorts together. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 6\) and count up \(\displaystyle 7\).

\(\displaystyle 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}6\\ +\ 7\end{array}}{ \ \ \ \space 13}\)

Example Question #6 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

Jeff needs to collect leaves for a school project. He picked up \(\displaystyle 13\) leaves in his front yard and \(\displaystyle 6\) leaves in his backyard. How many leaves has he collected? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we are putting the leaves that Jeff collected in the front yard together with the leaves he collected in the backyard. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 13\) and count up \(\displaystyle 6\).

\(\displaystyle 13,14,15,16,17,18,19\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}13\\ +\ 6\end{array}}{ \ \ \space 19}\)

Example Question #1 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

Tom and Tim both have piggy banks in their rooms. Tom has \(\displaystyle 11\) coins in his piggy bank and Tim has \(\displaystyle 6\). How many coins do they have if they put their coins together? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because Tim and Tom are putting their coins together. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 11\) and count up \(\displaystyle 6\).

\(\displaystyle 11,12,13,14,15,16,17\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}11\\ +\ 6\end{array}}{ \ \ \space 17}\)

Example Question #2 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

A furniture store has \(\displaystyle 6\) tables for sale and \(\displaystyle 12\) chairs for sale. How many total things do they have for sale? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we are putting the table and chairs together. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 6\) and count up \(\displaystyle 12\).

\(\displaystyle 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}6\\ +\ 12\end{array}}{ \ \ \ \space 18}\)

Example Question #2 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

A candy store has \(\displaystyle 14\) blue gumballs and \(\displaystyle 5\) yellow gumballs. How many total gumballs  does the store have? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 19\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we are putting the blue and the yellow gumballs together. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 14\) and count up \(\displaystyle 5\).

\(\displaystyle 14,15,16,17,18,19\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}14\\ +\ 5\end{array}}{ \ \ \space 19}\)

Example Question #3 : Addition Within 20 To Solve Word Problems

The rose bush has \(\displaystyle 9\) hot pink roses and \(\displaystyle 4\) light pink roses. How many total roses does the bush have? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 13\)

Explanation:

This is an addition problem because we are putting the hot pink flowers and the light pink flowers together. When we put things together we are adding. 

We can start at \(\displaystyle 9\) and count up \(\displaystyle 4\).

\(\displaystyle 9,10,11,12,13\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}9\\ +\ 4\end{array}}{ \ \ \space 13}\)

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