- This PDF File - What are One-Step Subtraction Word Problems? One-step subtraction word problems are math problems that can be solved using just one subtraction calculation. They usually describe a simple situation where something is taken away, lost, spent, or compared, and you must find the difference. Key Features of One-Step Subtraction Word Problems: Keywords – Words like left, remain, fewer, gave away, lost, spent, difference, how many more/less often signal subtraction. Simple Situati