🔢 MathLevel 1Lesson 10
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Subtracting Small Numbers

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Subtract small numbers by counting back from the starting number
  • 2Use the number line to show subtraction as hops backward
  • 3Write a correct subtraction sentence using −, =, and the difference
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Mini Lesson

Subtraction is the opposite of addition. Instead of putting groups together, we take away and find out how many are left!

What the symbols mean

  • − means "subtract," "take away," or "minus"
  • = means "equals" or "leaves"
  • Example: 9 − 3 = 6 means "start with 9, take away 3, and 6 are left"

Counting back from the starting number

  • Start at the first number, then count back by the second number.
  • Example: 8 − 3 → start at 8, count back 3: 7, 6, 5.
  • Each count back is one hop to the left on the number line.

Using the number line

  • Put your finger on the first number.
  • Hop backward (to the left) one space for each you are taking away.
  • Where you land is the answer — called the difference.

Special subtraction rules

  • Subtracting zero never changes a number: 6 − 0 = 6.
  • Subtracting a number from itself always gives zero: 5 − 5 = 0.
Number line showing 9 minus 3 equals 6 with three backward hop arcsA number line from 0 to 10. A dot sits on 9, then three orange arcs hop backward one space each to the left, landing on 8, 7, and finally 6 which is circled in green.9 − 3 = ?012345678910start−1−1−1← hop backwardland!9 − 3 = 6 ✅Start at 9, hop back 3 times.Where you land = the difference!
Number line showing 9 − 3 = 6 — start at 9 (blue dot), hop backward three times (orange arcs), land on 6 (green circle).
Subtraction sentence anatomy and the two special subtraction rulesThe subtraction sentence 8 minus 5 equals 3 with parts labeled: starting number, minus sign, number taken away, equals sign, difference. Below, two rule cards show subtracting zero and subtracting a number from itself.Subtraction Sentence8−5=3startingnumberminustakenawayequalsdifferenceSpecial RulesSubtract zero:6 − 0 = 6Nothing taken = no changeSubtract itself:5 − 5 = 0Take all away = zero leftSubtraction undoes addition: 6 + 3 = 9, so 9 − 3 = 6
Subtraction sentence anatomy (starting number − taken away = difference), two special rules, and the link between addition and subtraction.
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Ask yourself: "Where do I start? How many hops backward? Where do I land?"

Vocabulary
Subtract
To take away one number from anothere.g. 9 − 3 = 6
Difference
The answer to a subtraction sentencee.g. In 9 − 3 = 6, the difference is 6
Count back
Start at the first number and count backward by the seconde.g. 8 − 3 → 7, 6, 5
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← Lesson 9: Adding Small NumbersLesson 11: Understanding Fact Families →