ISEE Lower Level Quiz: Whole Number Addition Subtraction
20 questions · exam conditions
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Whole Number Addition SubtractionQuestion 1 of 20

At the beginning of the year, the town of Springfield had a population of 8,452. During the year, 112 babies were born, 78 people passed away, and 240 people moved into town. What was the population of Springfield at the end of the year?

8,278
8,486
8,726
8,882
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ISEE Lower Level Quiz

ISEE Lower Level Quiz: Whole Number Addition Subtraction

Practice Whole Number Addition Subtraction in ISEE Lower Level with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Whole Number Addition Subtraction, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for ISEE Lower Level.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

At the beginning of the year, the town of Springfield had a population of 8,452. During the year, 112 babies were born, 78 people passed away, and 240 people moved into town. What was the population of Springfield at the end of the year?

  1. 8,278
  2. 8,486
  3. 8,726 (correct answer)
  4. 8,882
Explanation: Start with the initial population and account for each change. Add the births: 8,452 + 112 = 8,564. Subtract the deaths: 8,564 - 78 = 8,486. Add the people who moved in: 8,486 + 240 = 8,726. The final population is 8,726.

Question 2

A bakery started the day with a certain number of cupcakes. They first baked a new batch of 72 cupcakes. Then, they sold 150 cupcakes throughout the day. At closing time, 36 cupcakes were left. How many cupcakes did the bakery have at the very start of the day?

  1. 42
  2. 114 (correct answer)
  3. 186
  4. 258
Explanation: This problem requires working backwards. Before the 150 cupcakes were sold, there were 36 + 150 = 186 cupcakes. This total of 186 was the amount after a new batch of 72 was baked. To find the starting amount, subtract the baked cupcakes: 186 - 72 = 114 cupcakes.

Question 3

The town library has 5,480 books. The school library has 3,150 books. If the town library donates 600 books to the school library, what will be the new difference in the number of books between the two libraries?

  1. 1,130 (correct answer)
  2. 1,730
  3. 2,330
  4. 2,930
Explanation: First, calculate the new number of books in each library. The town library will have 5,480 - 600 = 4,880 books. The school library will have 3,150 + 600 = 3,750 books. Then, find the new difference between the two amounts: 4,880 - 3,750 = 1,130 books.

Question 4

A bookstore started the week with 420 copies of a new novel. On Monday, they sold 65 copies. On Tuesday, they received a new shipment of 150 copies. On Wednesday, they sold 110 copies. How many copies did the bookstore have on hand at the end of Wednesday?

  1. 95
  2. 355
  3. 395 (correct answer)
  4. 505
Explanation: Follow the inventory changes in order. Start: 420. After Monday's sales: 420 - 65 = 355. After Tuesday's shipment: 355 + 150 = 505. After Wednesday's sales: 505 - 110 = 395. The bookstore had 395 copies.

Question 5

In a school competition, the Blue Team scored 245 points in the first round and 312 points in the second round. The Red Team scored 280 points in the first round and 295 points in the second round. After two rounds, how many more points did the Red Team have than the Blue Team?

  1. 18 (correct answer)
  2. 35
  3. 52
  4. 557
Explanation: First, calculate the total score for each team. Blue Team's total: 245 + 312 = 557 points. Red Team's total: 280 + 295 = 575 points. Then, find the difference between their total scores: 575 - 557 = 18 points.

Question 6

A bag of marbles went through several changes. First, 25 marbles were added. Then, 40 marbles were taken out. Finally, 18 marbles were added. If there are now 120 marbles in the bag, how many were in the bag originally?

  1. 102
  2. 117 (correct answer)
  3. 123
  4. 142
Explanation: To find the original number, you must reverse the operations starting from the final amount. Start with 120. Before 18 were added, there were 120 - 18 = 102. Before 40 were taken out, there were 102 + 40 = 142. Before 25 were added, there were 142 - 25 = 117. The original number was 117.

Question 7

Last year, Jamal had 450 stamps. This year he collected 125 new stamps and gave away 80 stamps. His friend, Ken, started with 380 stamps and collected 180 new stamps. What is the difference between the number of stamps Jamal and Ken have now?

  1. 15
  2. 65 (correct answer)
  3. 95
  4. 110
Explanation: First, find the current number of stamps for each person. Jamal: 450 + 125 - 80 = 575 - 80 = 495 stamps. Ken: 380 + 180 = 560 stamps. Then, find the difference between their current totals: 560 - 495 = 65 stamps.

Question 8

In March, Leo read a book with 178 pages and another with 205 pages. In April, he read a single book with 410 pages. What is the difference between the total number of pages he read in March and the number of pages he read in April?

  1. 27 (correct answer)
  2. 33
  3. 205
  4. 383
Explanation: First, calculate the total number of pages Leo read in March by adding the pages of the two books: 178 + 205 = 383 pages. Then, find the difference between the pages read in April and the total pages read in March: 410 - 383 = 27 pages.

Question 9

Liam started with $200 in his savings account. He added a deposit of $150 and later withdrew $85 for a gift. His sister, Ava, started with $350 and withdrew $40. What is the difference between Ava's final balance and Liam's final balance?

  1. $45 (correct answer)
  2. $150
  3. $195
  4. $265
Explanation: First, calculate the final balance for each person. Liam's final balance: $200 + $150 - $85 = $350 - $85 = $265. Ava's final balance: $350 - $40 = $310. Then, find the difference between their final balances: $310 - $265 = $45.

Question 10

A theater has 900 seats. For a weekend concert, 675 tickets were sold for Saturday and 810 tickets were sold for Sunday. How many more tickets were sold in total for the weekend than the number of seats in the theater?

  1. 135
  2. 225
  3. 585 (correct answer)
  4. 1,485
Explanation: First, find the total number of tickets sold for the weekend: 675 + 810 = 1,485 tickets. The question asks for the difference between the total tickets sold and the number of seats (capacity for one show), so subtract the number of seats from the total tickets sold: 1,485 - 900 = 585.

Question 11

A bicycle costs $215. Maria has saved $85 from her allowance and received $40 for her birthday. How much more money does she need to buy the bicycle?

  1. $90 (correct answer)
  2. $125
  3. $130
  4. $175
Explanation: First, find the total amount of money Maria has by adding her savings and birthday money: $85 + $40 = $125. Next, subtract the amount she has from the cost of the bicycle to find out how much more she needs: $215 - $125 = $90.

Question 12

The fourth-grade classes set a goal to raise $1,200 for charity. Ms. Smith's class raised $345, and Mr. Jones's class raised $410. How much more money do they need to raise to meet their goal?

  1. $445 (correct answer)
  2. $755
  3. $790
  4. $855
Explanation: First, find the total amount raised so far by the two classes: $345 + $410 = $755. Then, subtract the amount raised from the goal to find out how much more is needed: $1,200 - $755 = $445.

Question 13

Chloe has a collection of 152 stickers, and her brother Ben has 84 stickers. How many stickers does Chloe need to give to Ben so that they both have the same number of stickers?

  1. 34 (correct answer)
  2. 68
  3. 118
  4. 236
Explanation: First, find the total number of stickers: 152 + 84 = 236. To have the same number, each would have half the total: 236 ÷ 2 = 118 stickers. The number of stickers Chloe needs to give away is the difference between her current amount and the equal share: 152 - 118 = 34 stickers. Alternatively, find the difference (152 - 84 = 68) and divide by 2 (68 ÷ 2 = 34).

Question 14

David went to the store with $150. He bought a video game for $68 and a controller for $45. He also bought a snack for $4. How much money did he have left?

  1. $33 (correct answer)
  2. $37
  3. $82
  4. $117
Explanation: First, find the total cost of all the items David bought: $68 + $45 + $4 = $113 + $4 = $117. Then, subtract the total cost from the money he started with to find the amount left: $150 - $117 = $33.

Question 15

The drive from Boston to Denver is 1,972 miles. The Chen family drove 455 miles on the first day and 510 miles on the second day. How many miles do they still have to drive?

  1. 965
  2. 1,007 (correct answer)
  3. 1,017
  4. 1,462
Explanation: First, calculate the total distance driven in the first two days: 455 + 510 = 965 miles. Then, subtract this distance from the total trip distance to find the remaining miles: 1,972 - 965 = 1,007 miles.

Question 16

In a video game, Anya starts with 500 points. In the first round, she loses 175 points. In the second round, she gains 250 points. In the final round, she loses 85 points. What is her final score?

  1. 325
  2. 490 (correct answer)
  3. 575
  4. 660
Explanation: This problem requires performing a series of additions and subtractions. Start with 500 points. After round 1: 500 - 175 = 325 points. After round 2: 325 + 250 = 575 points. After the final round: 575 - 85 = 490 points. Her final score is 490.

Question 17

Two water tanks together hold a total of 800 gallons. The larger tank holds 150 more gallons than the smaller tank. How many gallons does the smaller tank hold?

  1. 325 (correct answer)
  2. 400
  3. 475
  4. 650
Explanation: First, subtract the extra amount the larger tank holds from the total: 800 - 150 = 650 gallons. This 650 gallons represents the amount held by two tanks of the smaller size. Divide this by 2 to find the capacity of the smaller tank: 650 ÷ 2 = 325 gallons. The smaller tank holds 325 gallons, and the larger holds 325 + 150 = 475 gallons.

Question 18

A city park has a total of 1,050 trees. Of these, 385 are oak trees and 415 are maple trees. The rest of the trees are pine trees. How many more maple trees are there than pine trees?

  1. 30
  2. 165 (correct answer)
  3. 250
  4. 800
Explanation: First, find the total number of oak and maple trees: 385 + 415 = 800. Next, find the number of pine trees by subtracting this from the total: 1,050 - 800 = 250 pine trees. Finally, find the difference between the number of maple trees and pine trees: 415 - 250 = 165.

Question 19

A school bus started with 42 students. At the first stop, 15 students got off. At the second stop, 9 new students got on. How many students were on the bus after the second stop?

  1. 18
  2. 27
  3. 36 (correct answer)
  4. 66
Explanation: This is a two-step problem. First, subtract the students who got off: 42 - 15 = 27 students. Then, add the new students who got on: 27 + 9 = 36 students. There were 36 students on the bus.

Question 20

A farmer harvested 2,500 pounds of potatoes. He sold 850 pounds to a local market and 975 pounds to a grocery store chain. He kept the rest for his family. How many pounds of potatoes did he keep?

  1. 675 (correct answer)
  2. 1,525
  3. 1,650
  4. 1,825
Explanation: First, find the total amount of potatoes sold by adding the amounts sold to the market and the grocery store: 850 + 975 = 1,825 pounds. Then, subtract the total sold from the total harvested to find the amount kept: 2,500 - 1,825 = 675 pounds.