Subtraction Word Problems: How Much Left?
Solve word problems about what remains after spending or using.
🎯 What You'll Learn
You will solve word problems about finding how much is left after something is used, eaten, spent, or given away.
🏪 Market Story
Amina starts the week with ₦500. She spends ₦120 on Monday and ₦85 on Wednesday. How much does she have left? First, find total spent: ₦120 + ₦85 = ₦205. Then subtract: ₦500 − ₦205 = ₦295. Amina has ₦295 left.
📝 Let's Learn
Key words that tell you to subtract: "how much is left," "how many remain," "what's left over," "how much less."
Example 1: A baker makes 80 loaves of bread. He sells 53. How many are left? 80 − 53 = 27 loaves.
Example 2: Emeka has 45 marbles. He gives 18 to Chidi and 12 to Tunde. How many are left? Total given: 18 + 12 = 30. Left: 45 − 30 = 15 marbles.
Example 3: A water tank holds 200 litres. A family uses 75 litres. How much water is left? 200 − 75 = 125 litres.
✏️ Practice Questions
- Bola has 36 sweets. She gives 14 to her friends. How many does she have left?
- A market trader has 150 bags of garri. She sells 87. How many bags remain?
- Tunde starts with ₦400. He spends ₦95 on transport and ₦160 on food. How much is left?
Click to see answers
- 36 − 14 = 22 sweets.
- 150 − 87 = 63 bags.
- Total spent: ₦95 + ₦160 = ₦255. Left: ₦400 − ₦255 = ₦145.
💡 Remember
When the question asks "how much is left" or "how many remain," that's subtraction. Start with the total and subtract what was used or taken away.