Subtraction is a way to find out how many are left when we take some away. When you see words like “are left,” “remain,” “subtract,” or “take away,” it’s time to subtract!
We use a minus sign (−) to show subtraction and an equal sign (=) to show the answer, which is called the difference. For example, if you have 7 candies and eat 4, you have 3 left. So, 7 minus 4 equals 3, and 3 is the difference.
Here’s a cool trick: If you subtract 0 from any number, the number stays the same. So, if you have 8 apples and take away 0, you still have 8 apples!
Let’s learn the counting back strategy! This is great when you’re subtracting small numbers like 1, 2, or 3. You start with the first number and count back the second number.
For example, with 8 minus 1, you start at 8 and count back 1 to get 7. So, 8 minus 1 equals 7.
Imagine you have 10 lollipops, and Jeff takes away 3. How many are left? Start at 10 and count back 3: 9, 8, 7. So, 10 minus 3 equals 7 lollipops left!
Next, let’s use a number line! This helps when subtracting bigger numbers.
To solve 12 minus 5, put your finger on 12 and count back 5: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7. Your finger lands on 7, so 12 minus 5 equals 7.
Here’s another one: You have 10 eggs, and mom uses 4. How many are left? Start at 10 and count back 4: 9, 8, 7, 6. So, 10 minus 4 equals 6 eggs left!
Now, let’s use doubles to subtract! Doubles are numbers added to themselves, like 2 + 2 = 4.
If you know 2 + 2 = 4, then 4 minus 2 equals 2. Easy, right?
For example, Wendy has 12 grapes and eats 6. How many are left? Since 6 + 6 = 12, we know 12 minus 6 equals 6 grapes left!
Here are some doubles facts to remember:
And here are some subtraction examples using doubles:
Now you’re ready to subtract like a pro! Have fun practicing!
Subtraction Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around your house or classroom! Find items that you can subtract from a group. For example, if you have 5 toy cars and you give 2 to a friend, how many do you have left? Write down your subtraction problems and solve them. Share your findings with a friend or family member!
Number Line Hop: Create a large number line on the floor using tape or chalk. Start at a number, like 10, and hop backward to subtract. For example, if you want to solve 10 minus 3, start at 10 and hop back 3 spaces to land on 7. Try different subtraction problems and see where you land!
Double Trouble Game: Play a game using doubles to subtract. Write down some doubles facts on cards (like 4 + 4 = 8) and their corresponding subtraction facts (8 – 4 = 4). Mix them up and try to match the addition and subtraction pairs. See how fast you can match them all!
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
**Strategies for Subtraction**
We use subtraction to find out how many are left. When reading a math problem, look for the words “are left,” “remain,” “subtract,” or “take away.”
The symbols we use in subtraction are a subtraction sign (−) and an equal sign (=). The answer to the problem is called the difference. For example, 7 minus 4 equals 3, where 3 is the difference.
It’s important to note that 0 subtracted from any number will always be that number. For example, 8 minus 0 is 8. If we have 8 apples in a basket and take away 0 apples, there will still be 8 apples in that basket.
**Counting Back Strategy**
The first strategy we are going to learn is the counting back strategy. This works best if one of the numbers is 1, 2, or 3. When we count back, we say the first number in the problem and count back the second number.
For example, with 8 minus 1, we say 8 and count back 1: 7. So, 8 minus 1 equals 7.
Here’s another example: There are 10 lollipops in a bag, and Jeff takes away 3 lollipops. How many lollipops are left? The subtraction problem is 10 minus 3. We say 10 and count back 3: 9, 8, 7. Thus, 10 minus 3 equals 7.
**Number Line Strategy**
The second strategy is using a number line. We can use a number line to help us count back for numbers that are bigger than 3.
Let’s use the number line to solve 12 minus 5. We start with our finger on the number 12 and count back 5: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7. Your finger should now be on the number 7, so 12 minus 5 equals 7.
Let’s try another one: There are 10 eggs in a carton, and mom uses 4 eggs for breakfast. How many eggs are left in the carton? The subtraction problem is 10 minus 4. Using the number line, we put our finger on 10 and count back 4: 9, 8, 7, 6. So, 10 minus 4 equals 6.
**Doubles to Subtract Strategy**
The last strategy we will learn is using doubles to subtract. It is important to remember the doubles facts so that you can use them as a strategy for subtraction.
The doubles facts are:
– 1 + 1 = 2
– 2 + 2 = 4
– 3 + 3 = 6
– 4 + 4 = 8
– 5 + 5 = 10
– 6 + 6 = 12
If we know that 2 plus 2 equals 4, then we also know that 4 minus 2 equals 2.
For example, Wendy has 12 grapes and eats 6 of them. How many grapes are left? We can say 6 plus 6 equals 12, so 12 minus 6 equals 6.
Using doubles facts for subtraction:
– 2 minus 1 equals 1
– 4 minus 2 equals 2
– 6 minus 3 equals 3
– 8 minus 4 equals 4
– 10 minus 5 equals 5
– 12 minus 6 equals 6
—
This version maintains the educational content while ensuring clarity and readability.
