This document provides examples of using a 5-step problem solving method for addition word problems. The 5 steps are: 1) identify what is asked, 2) identify the given data, 3) identify the operation to use, 4) write a number sentence, and 5) solve and provide the answer with units. Four examples are provided showing the full working of the method for problems involving adding amounts of sweets, apples, zoo visitors, and hours trekking.

1. Problem
Solving

2. On St. Patrick’s Day, Seán
ate 15 sweets. Later that
day, he ate 17 more
sweets. How many did he
eat altogether?
Example #1:

3. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Step 2: Identify the given data.
STEP 3: Identify the operation to be
used.
Step 4: Write the number sentence
that will give the answer to the
problem.
STEP 5: Solve the number sentence
and write the answer, together with the
unit and the label.

4. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Answer: How many did he
eat altogether?
Step 2: Identify the given data.
Answer:
15 - sweets.
17 - more sweets

5. Step 3: Identify the operation to
be used.
Answer: Addition
Step 4: Write the number sentence
Answer:
15 + 17 = N
Where N is the total number of
Sean’s ate.

6. Step 5: Solution and answer
Hence, 32 sweets Sean’s ate.
15
17
+
2 ✔
3
1

7. There were 14
apples on a tree.
There were 21
apples on another
tree. How many
apples were there
altogether on the two
trees?
Example #2:

8. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Step 2: Identify the given data.
STEP 3: Identify the operation to be
used.
Step 4: Write the number sentence
that will give the answer to the
problem.
STEP 5: Solve the number sentence
and write the answer, together with the
unit and the label.

9. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Answer: How many apples were
there altogether on the two trees?
Step 2: Identify the given data.
Answer:
14 - apples on a tree
21 - apples on another tree.

10. Step 3: Identify the operation to
be used.
Answer: Addition
Step 4: Write the number sentence
Answer:
14 + 21 = N
Where N is the total number of apples.

11. Step 5: Solution and answer
Hence, there are 35 apples in
two trees.
14
21
+
5 ✔
3

12. Zoo

13. In one day, 245 adults and
912 children visited the
zoo. How many visitors
were there in all?
Example #3:

14. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Step 2: Identify the given data.
STEP 3: Identify the operation to be
used.
Step 4: Write the number sentence
that will give the answer to the
problem.
STEP 5: Solve the number sentence
and write the answer, together with the
unit and the label.

15. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Answer: How many
visitors were there in all?
Step 2: Identify the given data.
Answer:
245 - adults
912 - children

16. Step 3: Identify the operation to
be used.
Answer: Addition
Step 4: Write the number sentence
Answer:
245 + 912 = N
Where N is the total number of
visitors in the zoo.

17. Step 5: Solution and answer
Hence, 1157 visitors at the
zoo.
245
912
+
7 ✔
5
1,
1

18. James and Iris recorded the
number of hours that they spent
trekking every day during their
Mount Apo climb. They spent 6
hours trekking on the first day, 11
hours on the second day, 12 hours
on the third day, and 9 hours on the
fourth day. How many hours did
they trek in all?
Example #2:

19. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Step 2: Identify the given data.
STEP 3: Identify the operation to be
used.
Step 4: Write the number sentence
that will give the answer to the
problem.
STEP 5: Solve the number sentence
and write the answer, together with the
unit and the label.

20. Step 1: Identify what is asked.
Answer: How many hours did
they trek in all?
Step 2: Identify the given data.
Answer:
6 hours - first day
11 hours - second day
12 hours - third day
9 hours - fourth day

21. Step 3: Identify the operation to
be used.
Answer: Addition
Step 4: Write the number sentence
Answer:
6 + 11 + 12 + 9 = N

22. Step 5: Solution and answer
Answer:
6 + 11 + 12 + 9 = 38
hours
James and Iris trekked for 38 hours
during their Mount Apo climb