Paul got a box of 17 crayons for his birthday. During the school year he gave 31 crayons to his friends while he lost 37 crayons. How many more crayons did he lose than those he gave to his friends?
Paul got a box of 17 crayons. 
During the school year he gave 31 crayons to his friends. 
That means he had 31 crayons to start with, and he gave 31 away. 
That means he's left with 0 crayons. 
He lost 37 crayons. 
That means he had 37 crayons to start with, and he gave 0 away. 
That means he's left with 37 crayons. 

He lost 37 crayons, and gave 31 crayons away. He lost more crayons than he gave away.