Explore Decimal Word Problems

Are your students practicing how to apply decimal addition and subtraction to a variety of word problems? If your students are fine-tuning their problem-solving skills, the resource will make a great addition to your decimal unit.

This set of 20 adding and subtracting decimals word problems has been created by our expert teacher team to give your students practice solving word problems that involve adding or subtracting decimals to the hundredths place. Students will practice solving problems such as:

John is making a bread recipe with his grandma. The recipe calls for 15.94 grams of flour. He weighed out 18.26 grams. How many grams of flour does John need to put back? 

The download for this resource contains:

• Instruction page
• 16 x adding and subtracting decimals word problems
• Recording sheet
• Answer key

Through this activity, students will show they can fluently add and subtract multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.

Multiple Uses for These Decimal Word Problem Cards

These decimal word problem task cards can be used in multiple ways in your classroom. You might like to use them in the following ways:

1. Scoot Activity – Place the cards around the room in numerical order and give each student a recording sheet. Assign students or pairs to a starting point card. Give students time to review the card and record their answers in the corresponding space on their paper. Students will rotate to the next card when you say, “SCOOT!” Continue in this manner until students return to their starting point.
2. Scavenger Hunt – An adaptation of the above. If you have easy access to an outside area, place the cards around for students to find and then complete. This not only gets students moving but also gets them outside the classroom for a change of scenery!
3. Exit Tickets – Use these cards as a formative assessment or exit ticket after your lesson on adding and subtracting decimals. Pick a random assortment of cards and project them on the board for the whole class to see. Students can record their answers on a sheet of paper, sticky note or their notebook.

Print and Prepare These Adding and Subtracting Decimals Task Cards

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the full-color PDF, low-color PDF, black-and-white PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource.

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for safekeeping.

This resource was created by Cassandra Friesen, a teacher in Colorado and Teach Starter collaborator.

Explore Teach Starter’s Decimal Operations Resources

Teach Starter has a wide range of teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources to support you in teaching your upper elementary students about decimal operations. Click below for more great suggestions from our team!

teaching resource

Dividing with Decimals – Word Problem Task Cards

Sharpen decimal division skills while solving a variety of word problems with this set of 24 task cards.

teaching resource

Subtracting Decimals with Base-Ten Blocks – Board Game

Use this board game to encourage friendly competition while practicing how to subtract decimals with visual models.

teaching resource

Adding and Subtracting Decimals – Differentiated Mystery Image Worksheets

Have students practice adding and subtracting decimals with this mystery image worksheet.