IXL | Write number sentences for word problems with start unknown - up to 20

Read the story.

There were some bagels on a plate. Then, Matt added 9 more. Now there are 13 bagels. How many bagels were on the plate at the start?

Write a number sentence to match the story. Use the ? for the unknown number.

How many bagels were on the plate at the start?

bagels

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Learn with an example

question

Read the story.

Mr. Jones had some stamps. He bought 5 more. Now he has 14 stamps. How many stamps did Mr. Jones start with?

Write a number sentence to match the story. Use the ? for the unknown number.

How many stamps did Mr. Jones start with?

stamps

solution

Mr. Jones had some stamps. He bought 5 more. Now he has 14 stamps. You need to find how many stamps Mr. Jones started with. It can be helpful to draw a model.

stamps now

stamps to start

stamps Mr. Jones bought

You can write an addition sentence and find the missing number.

Or you can use the related subtraction sentence.

–

Mr. Jones started with 9

stamps.

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$Confetti$

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Time
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hr	min	sec
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X.5Word problems with start unknown - up to 20

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