Subtract by Counting On - Up to 20
š§āāļø Climb the ladder! Sometimes the fastest way to subtract is to actually add. When two numbers are close together, just count up!
Concept
We usually subtract by going backward. But what if the problem is **19 - 17 = ?** Counting backward 17 times would be exhausting! Let's use the Distance Trick. šÆ **The Distance Trick (Counting On):** When the two numbers in a subtraction problem are very close together on the number line, just count the steps between them! 1. **Start at the small number:** Start at 17. 2. **Count UP to the big number:** Say "18, 19". 3. **How many steps?** You took 2 steps forward! So, **19 - 17 = 2**. You just turned a scary subtraction problem into a super easy counting game!
Try it
Find the distance! **Instructions:** Start at the small number and count up to the big number. **Problem 1: 16 - 14 = ?** * Start at 14. Count up: "15, 16". * That's ___ steps! * Answer: ___ **Problem 2: 20 - 18 = ?** * Start at 18. Count up to 20. * Answer: ___ **Problem 3: 15 - 12 = ?** * Answer: ___ **Problem 4: 18 - 17 = ?** * Answer: ___