Subtraction

Terms · Counting Back · Borrowing · Practice

Watch the apples cancel each other out — survivors move to the answer row.

−
What is Subtraction?
Subtraction finds the difference between two numbers — how much is left after taking one away. Symbol: −
Start with
15
Minuend
Take away
6
Subtrahend
Result
9
Difference
Mental Strategies
1
Count Back14−5: start at 14, count 13,12,11,10,9.
2
Number BondsUse known pairs that make 10. 10−3=7 because 3+7=10.
3
Count Up (Difference)Count up from smaller to larger. 52−47: count 47→52 = 5.
4
Round & Adjust63−29 → 63−30+1 = 34.
Column Subtraction & Borrowing

Line up digits. Subtract right to left. When top digit < bottom digit, borrow 1 ten from the left column.

Example: 523 − 168

H
T
O
4
11
13
5
2
3
−
1
6
8
3
5
5
Ones: 3<8 → borrow: 13−8=5 | Tens: 1<6 → borrow: 11−6=5 | Hundreds: 4−1 = 3
Key Facts
Subtraction is the inverse of addition: if 6+7=13 then 13−7=6.
Subtracting 0 leaves a number unchanged: n−0=n.
Subtracting a number from itself gives 0: n−n=0.
Order matters — subtraction is not commutative: 9−3 ≠ 3−9.