Subtraction is taking away one number from another to find out how many are left. It shows the difference between two numbers.
Think of subtraction as “how many are left” after you take something away.
You can identify subtraction problems by the minus sign (−). The number before the minus sign is the whole amount, and the number after tells how many to take away.
The answer to a subtraction problem is called the difference.
A subtraction sentence shows a complete math problem with all its parts: the whole number, the number being taken away, and the difference (the answer).
Always check that your difference is less than the starting number. Subtraction makes the number smaller.
Here are some complete subtraction sentences using one-digit numbers and totals up to 20:
Use counting back on a number line or with objects (like cubes or counters) to check your work.
Subtraction can be easier if you use strategies to check your work and make sense of the numbers.
Subtraction and addition are connected. If you know one, you can check the other!