Subtracting 4
🚗 Beep beep! A car has 4 wheels. Subtracting 4 is like taking off all the wheels on a car!
Do this: Read the concept below, then try the quiz or activity.
Concept
There are a couple of cool ways to subtract 4 quickly in your head.
🎯 The "Double-Take" Strategy: You already know that 4 is a double (2 + 2). So, subtracting 4 is just like subtracting 2... and then subtracting 2 AGAIN! Example: 10 - 4 = ? 1. First, take away 2: 10 - 2 = 8 2. Then, take away another 2: 8 - 2 = 6 So, 10 - 4 = 6!
🎯 The "Make 10" Helper: If your starting number is in the "teens" (like 14), separating it is easy. Example: 14 - 4 = ? 14 is made of a 10 and a 4. If you take away the 4, all you have left is the 10! 14 - 4 = 10.
Try it
Let's try subtracting 4!
Instructions: Use the "Double-Take" or counting back strategy to solve.
Problem 1: 8 - 4 = ? * Take away 2 (to get 6). * Take away 2 more. * Answer: ___
Problem 2: 12 - 4 = ? * Take away 2: 12 -> 10. * Take away 2 more: 10 -> ___ * Answer: ___
Problem 3: 16 - 4 = ? * Answer: ___
Problem 4: 14 - 4 = ? * (Hint: This is one of the super easy ones!) * Answer: ___