Subtraction

Subtraction is when you take a number away from another number. The minus sign (-) tells you to subtract. For example, 5 - 2 = 3. You use subtraction to find out how much is left or how many more one group has than another. It is the opposite of addition.

How Subtraction Works

When you subtract, you start with a bigger number and take some away. If you have 10 cookies and eat 3, you subtract to find 7 cookies left. The number you start with is called the minuend. The number you take away is the subtrahend. The answer is called the difference.

Ways to Subtract

You can subtract by counting backward or by using a number line. For bigger numbers, you line them up and subtract one column at a time. Sometimes you need to borrow from the next column. Subtraction helps you figure out change when you buy things at a store.

Fun Facts

• The minus sign (-) is one of the oldest math symbols.
• Any number minus itself equals zero, like 7 - 7 = 0.
• Unlike addition, the order matters in subtraction, so 5 - 2 is not the same as 2 - 5.

Did You Know?

If you subtract a bigger number from a smaller one, the answer becomes a negative number, like 3 - 5 = -2.