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Math tip sheet

Subtraction strategies for kids

Six ways to take away: count back, think addition, count up, take 10 and fix, cross out, and column subtraction.

Free, no sign-upPrints on one pageAges 6 to 8

Subtraction strategies

Ages 6 to 8

  1. 1Count back

    For small numbers, start at the big number and jump back.

    11 − 3: 10, 9, 8

  2. 2Think addition

    Turn it into an addition: what do I add to 5 to make 12? The fact family helps.

    12 − 5 = 7, because 5 + 7 = 12

  3. 3Count up

    When the numbers are close, count up from the small one to the big one.

    52 − 47 = 3 + 2 = 5

  4. 4Take 10, then fix

    Taking away 9? Take away 10, then give 1 back.

    34 − 9 = 24 + 1 = 25

  5. 5Cross out

    Draw dots for the first number and cross out the ones you take away. Count what is left.

    7 − 3 = 4

  6. 6Column subtraction

    Start with the ones. Not enough? Borrow a ten from the tens column.

    52 − 27 = 25

💡 Memory tip: Check a subtraction with an addition: 25 + 27 = 52, so 52 − 27 = 25 is right.

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Practise it

Subtraction worksheetsAddition and subtraction worksheets2nd grade math worksheets

Print the sheet for the fridge or the homework folder, and look at one idea a day. Kids learn a strategy best when they say it out loud while they use it: "8 and 2 make 10, and 3 more is 13."

More tip sheets

Number bonds to 10The pairs that make 10, shown with a rainbow, a ten-frame, fingers and part-whole circles.Addition strategiesSix ways to add without counting every dot.How multiplication worksWhat times means, shown with equal groups, arrays, skip counting, turn-arounds, doubling and breaking a fact apart.Times table tricksA trick for every times table from 0 to 12, including the 9s on your fingers.How division worksSharing, grouping, thinking in times tables, jumping back, remainders and the four steps of long division.Printable multiplication chartA colorful times table chart from 1 to 10 (1 to 100), 1 to 12 or 1 to 20.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What is the easiest way to teach subtraction?

Start with real things: 7 crackers, eat 3, how many are left? Then count back on a number line. Once kids know their addition facts, "think addition" is the fastest strategy for facts to 20.

What is borrowing in subtraction?

Borrowing (also called regrouping or exchanging) is when there are not enough ones to take away, so one ten from the tens column is turned into ten ones. In 52 − 27, the 5 tens become 4 tens and the 2 ones become 12 ones.

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