What is subtraction?

Definition

Subtraction is an operation that removes one quantity from another.

In subtraction, the starting number and the number being subtracted are called terms. The answer to the subtraction is called the difference.

Example

To find out what the “−” and “=” symbols mean, read the Lexicon of Mathematical Symbols concept sheet.

How to subtract numbers using objects or drawings

Several types of objects can be used to represent numbers. For example: toy cars, tokens, and pencils can help with calculations.

Example

7 - 3 = ?

I have 7 footballs and I need to subtract 3.

To find the number of remaining items, I remove 3 items from the 7 items.

I then get 4 items.

Example

|52-48=?|

I begin by representing the starting number. The starting number is \|52\|.
Next, I subtract the second number from the starting number. If I do not have enough ones to perform the subtraction, I have to regroup a ten from the starting number and turn it into ones. I now have \|4\| tens and \|12\| ones. I can now subtract \|8\| ones from \|12\| ones. \|12-8=4\|
I now subtract the tens. \|4-4=0\| There are no more digits to subtract in the other place value positions.

|52-48=4|