Taking Away
Sometimes things go away...
Learn about subtraction — what happens when we take things away. Balloons fly away, cookies get eaten, and we discover what remains!
🎈 The Party Ends
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🎈 Riya's Balloons
Riya has 5 balloons from her birthday party. Tap a balloon to let it fly away!
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Chapter 3: Subtraction - Taking Away
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Questions & Answers
Taking away, step by step
What is subtraction?
Subtraction is taking some away from a group and seeing what is left. You start with a number, remove a number, and find the amount that stays.
What does the minus sign mean?
The minus sign means take away. In 7 minus 2, you start with 7 and take 2 away. Five stay.
Is subtraction the opposite of addition?
Yes. Addition puts things together. Subtraction takes things apart. If 3 plus 2 is 5, then 5 take away 2 is 3.
What is counting back?
Counting back means starting at the big number and saying numbers backwards. For 8 take away 3, say seven, six, five. Five is the answer.
Can the answer be zero?
Yes. If you take away everything, nothing is left. Five take away five is zero. Zero means none, not nothing at all.
Can I take away more than I have?
Not with the numbers you know now. You cannot eat six biscuits when you only have four. In higher classes you will meet numbers that can.
Which number comes first in subtraction?
The bigger group comes first, then what you take away. 9 take away 4 is not the same as 4 take away 9. Order matters in subtraction.
How do I practise subtraction at home?
Use real things. Take grapes off a plate. Take blocks off a tower. Say the whole sentence out loud. I had 6, I took 2, now I have 4.