Question

There were 17 glasses of juice. 4 were accidentally spilled, and you and your friends drank a few. 5 glasses were left. Identify the equation.

• A. $17-12=5$
• B. $17-4=13$
• C. $17-5=11$
• D. $17-5=12$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $17-12=5$

Solution: Option D

Say: Let’s read the question.

Ask:
How many glasses of juice were there in all?
Ans: 17

How many were spilled?
Ans: 4

How many were left?
Ans: 5

What information is missing?
Ans: The number of glasses of juice that were drunk.

How can you frame the incomplete equation?
Ans: 17 – ? = 5

How can we calculate the missing number?
Ans: We can subtract 5 from 17 to find the missing number.

What will be the complete equation?
Ans: 17 – 12 = 5

How can we now calculate the number of glasses that were drunk?
Ans: We subtract 4 from 12 to find the number of glasses that
were drunk.

What will be the detailed subtraction equation?
Ans: 17 – 4 – 8 = 5

Hence, option D is the correct answer.

WB: If required, use the whiteboard to draw the complete number frame as shown and write the equation.


Probing Question:
Q: If we are asked to find out the number of glasses of juice that were drunk, how will you frame the subtraction equation differently?
A: Total: 17, Spilled: 4, and Left: 5. So to find out the number of glasses that were drunk, the subtraction equation will be:
17 – 4 – 5 = 8, or 17 – 9 = 8.