Subtraction with break apart means solving a subtraction problem by splitting one of the numbers into smaller parts to make it easier to subtract. We usually break apart the smaller number (the number being subtracted).
Breaking apart helps you subtract in smaller, easier steps instead of all at once.
Look for story problems that ask you to take away, find the difference, or how many are left. These are subtraction problems.
Always check the story: if something is being taken away or compared, you are subtracting.
Follow these steps when you solve subtraction problems using break apart:
Breaking apart works best when you subtract in order: hundreds, tens, and then ones.
Here are more subtraction word problems solved by breaking apart the smaller number:
Check your answer by adding the number you subtracted back to your result. It should equal the starting number.