Ways to subtract from a number – subtraction sentences

key notes :

Understanding Subtraction

  • Subtraction means taking away or finding the difference between numbers.
  • Symbols: “-” (minus) and “=” (equals).

Subtraction Sentences

  • A subtraction sentence includes three parts:
    Minuend – Subtrahend = Difference
    Example: 8 – 3 = 5

Real-Life Examples

Use everyday situations:

  • “If you have 5 apples and eat 2, how many are left?”
  • Write the subtraction sentence: 5 – 2 = 3.

Number Line Method

  • Use a number line to jump backward to find the difference.
    Example: Start at 10 and jump back 4 spaces to land on 6.
    Subtraction sentence: 10 – 4 = 6.

Part-Part-Whole Concept

  • Show how subtraction separates a whole into parts.
    Example: 7 – 4 = 3 means 7 is split into two parts: 4 and 3.

Fact Families

Connect addition and subtraction sentences:
Example:

  • Addition: 5 + 2 = 7
  • Subtraction: 7 – 2 = 5

Learn with an example

🔍Here are the ways to subtract from 10. Find the pattern and type the missing subtraction number sentence.

______________
10 − 1 = 9
10 − 2 = 8
10 − 3 = 7
10 − 4 = 6
10 − 5 = 5
10 − 6 = 4
10 − 7 = 3
10 − 8 = 2
10 − 9 = 1
10 − 10 = 0
  • All the subtraction number sentences start with 10. The missing subtraction number sentence must start with 10.
  • Find the second number in each subtraction number sentence. Look for a pattern. Each number is one more than the number above it. To complete the pattern, the missing number must be 0. The second number in the missing subtraction number sentence is 0.
  • Now find the last number in each subtraction number sentence. Look for a pattern. Each number is one less than the number above it. To complete the pattern, the missing number must be 10. The missing subtraction number sentence ends with 10.
  • Now put the numbers together to make a subtraction number sentence. The missing subtraction number sentence is 10 − 0 = 10.

🔍Here are the ways to subtract from 7. Find the pattern and type the missing subtraction number sentence.

7 − 0 = 7
7 − 1 = 6
7 − 2 = 5
__________
7 − 4 = 3
7 − 5 = 2
7 − 6 = 1
7 − 7 = 0
  • All the subtraction number sentences start with 7. The missing subtraction number sentence must start with 7.
  • Find the second number in each subtraction number sentence. Look for a pattern. Each number is one more than the number above it. To complete the pattern, the missing number must be 3. The second number in the missing subtraction number sentence is 3.
  • Now find the last number in each subtraction number sentence. Look for a pattern. Each number is one less than the number above it. To complete the pattern, the missing number must be 4. The missing subtraction number sentence ends with 4.
  • Now put the numbers together to make a subtraction number sentence. The missing subtraction number sentence is 7 − 3 = 4.

🔍Here are the ways to subtract from 9. Find the pattern and type the missing subtraction number sentence.

9 − 0 = 9
9 − 1 = 8
9 − 2 = 7
9 − 3 = 6
9 − 4 = 5
9 − 5 = 4
_________
9 − 7 = 2
9 − 8 = 1
9 − 9 = 0
  • All the subtraction number sentences start with 9. The missing subtraction number sentence must start with 9.
  • Find the second number in each subtraction number sentence. Look for a pattern. Each number is one more than the number above it. To complete the pattern, the missing number must be 6. The second number in the missing subtraction number sentence is 6.
  • Now find the last number in each subtraction number sentence. Look for a pattern. Each number is one less than the number above it. To complete the pattern, the missing number must be 3. The missing subtraction number sentence ends with 3.
  • Now put the numbers together to make a subtraction number sentence. The missing subtraction number sentence is 9 − 6 = 3.

Let’s practice!