Reading & writing · Grades 2–5
A library shelf
Read once, answer together, and check your reasoning.
A library shelf
A shelf has 12 storybooks and 8 science books. Four storybooks are borrowed. No science books leave the shelf.
Try it yourself
How many books were on the shelf at first?
How many storybooks remain?
How many books remain altogether?
What fraction of the original 20 books was borrowed? Give a simplified fraction.
Check your understanding
Answers and marking notes
- 20
12 + 8 = 20
- 8
12 − 4 = 8
- 16
8 + 8 = 16
- 1/5
4/20 = 1/5
Learning preview · teacher review required. Grade bands are approximate, not official curriculum alignment.