One- and two-step story problems within 100
In 2nd grade, children learn to solve one- and two-step addition and subtraction word problems within 100, to plan their steps, and to show each story with a drawing or an equation.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 2nd grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
What is 80 minus 20?
- 50
- 60
- 70
Why this matters
Story problems are where your child learns to think through a situation before reaching for the numbers. Real life rarely ends after one calculation, and deciding which step comes first is a habit they will lean on for years. In 3rd grade, two-step problems bring in multiplication and division, such as buying 3 packs of 6 juice boxes and giving 5 away. A child who stops to picture the story chooses the right operation instead of guessing.
Where kids can get stuck
- Stopping after the first step of a two-step problem and giving the in-between total as the answer.
- Adding whenever a story says "more," even in "Ava has 52 stamps, 17 more than Leo," where Leo has 35.
- Losing track of what each number stands for, then using the wrong amount in the second step.
How you can help
- Make up two-step shopping stories in the grocery store: "We have 50 cents. If we buy a 20-cent pear and a 15-cent apple, how much is left?" Let your child explain each step.
- Ask your child to draw a quick picture or bar for a story problem at dinner, such as "A bus had 36 people, 12 got off, and 9 got on."
- Turn a game score into a problem: "You had 45 points and lost 10, then earned 25. What is your score now?" Ask which step they did first and why.
The kid-friendly video below explains it in a few minutes, and Bobby's Math Club offers free practice that grows with your child.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning word problems by drawing bars and boxes?
Bar drawings show which numbers are parts and which is the total, so your child can see whether to add or subtract. This works no matter where the unknown number is. It is more reliable than looking for key words, which often point the wrong way, and it prepares children for more complex problems.
My child can add and subtract but struggles with two-step problems. What helps?
Two-step problems require planning, which is a separate skill from calculating. Ask your child to tell the story in their own words and say what they need to find first. Writing or drawing each step separately helps. Using smaller numbers while practicing lets your child focus on the plan instead of the arithmetic.
What does unknowns in all positions mean?
It means the missing number can be the starting amount, the change, or the result. For example, "Some birds were in a tree, 14 flew away, and 23 are left" has an unknown start of 37. These problems ask your child to think about the story rather than add or subtract the numbers they see.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 2nd grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Unlimited practice, completely free
- Practice that starts where your child is and grows with them
- Level-ups, badges, and a cheer for every win
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
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Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 2.OA.A.1: “Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 2.OA.1)