Subtraction Word Problems - Up to 10
📖 Subtraction stories can be about "taking away" OR "comparing"! Let's learn to spot the difference and become subtraction story masters.
Do this: Read the concept below, then try the quiz or activity.
Concept
Not all subtraction problems are the same. Let's look at the two main types of subtraction stories.
🎯 Type 1: "Take Away" Stories This is the subtraction you know best! You start with an amount, and some of it goes away. * Story Example: There were 8 birds on a wire. 3 flew away. How many are left? * Action: You start with 8 and "take away" 3. * Sentence: 8 - 3 = 5.
🎯 Type 2: "Comparison" Stories This is when you have two different groups and you want to find the difference between them. You are not taking anything away! * Story Example: Sam has 7 toy cars. Ben has 5 toy cars. How many more cars does Sam have than Ben? * Action: You compare the two groups. * Sentence: 7 - 5 = 2. Sam has 2 more cars.
💡 The Big Idea: Even though the stories are different, you can use subtraction to solve both! Subtraction can mean "take away" OR "find the difference".
Try it
Let's practice spotting the story type!
Instructions: Read each story. First, decide if it's a "Take Away" or a "Comparison" story. Then, solve the problem.
Problem 1: You have 9 balloons. 4 of them float away. How many do you have left? * Story Type: ______________ (Take Away or Comparison?) * Sentence: ___ - ___ = ___
Problem 2: Maria has 6 dolls. Her sister has 4 dolls. How many more dolls does Maria have? * Story Type: ______________ * Sentence: ___ - ___ = ___
Problem 3: There are 10 cookies on a plate. You eat 2 of them. How many are left? * Story Type: ______________ * Sentence: ___ - ___ = ___
🏆 Challenge: Write one "Take Away" story and one "Comparison" story for the number sentence 8 - 2 = 6.