K-5 friendly lesson
Try one idea, then jump into the activity.These lessons are designed to feel short, friendly, and easy to follow.

Subtract a 1-Digit Number from a 2-Digit Number

šŸŖ„ Let's pull apart the teen numbers! If you learn how to separate the "ten" from the "ones", subtracting becomes a magic trick.

Lesson 4

Concept

When you see a problem like **15 - 8**, don't panic! You can use the "Step on 10" trick. šŸŽÆ **The "Step on 10" Strategy:** We want to take away the number 8 in two easy steps instead of one giant leap. 1. **Step down to 10:** 15 has a 5 in the ones place. Subtract 5 to get to the number 10! (15 - 5 = 10). 2. **Subtract the rest:** We need to subtract 8 total. We already subtracted 5. How many more do we need to take away? (8 - 5 = 3). We need to subtract 3 more. 3. **Make the final step:** 10 - 3 = 7. So, **15 - 8 = 7**! You used the number 10 as a resting spot in the middle of your math problem!

Try it

Step down to 10! **Instructions:** Break the subtraction into two steps to easily find the answer. **Problem 1: 14 - 6 = ?** * Step 1: Take away 4 to get to 10. * Step 2: Take away 2 more from the 10! (10 - 2) * Answer: ___ **Problem 2: 12 - 5 = ?** * Take away 2 to get to 10. * Take away ___ more from the 10. * Answer: ___ **Problem 3: 16 - 9 = ?** * (Magic 9 trick! You can just add the digits 1+6!) * Answer: ___ **Problem 4: 13 - 7 = ?** * Answer: ___