Subtraction Strategies
13 – 7 = 6
minuend
subtrahend
difference
Counting Back
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2
9 – 2 =___
1
Count back form the minuend and count
back the amount of the subtrahend
Count back 2 from 9. 9,8,7
Inverse Doubles
• The minuend will be even, and the
subtrahend and the difference will
either both be even or both be odd.
12 – 6 = 6
even
even
even
14 – 7 = 7
even
odd
odd
Inverse Double Plus/Minus 1
• The minuend will be odd, and if the
subtrahend is even, then the
difference will be odd.
• The minuend will be odd, and if the
subtrahend is odd, then the difference
will be even.
Counting Up
• Begin with the subtrahend and count
up to the minuend.
14 – 9= 5
10, 11, 12, 13, 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Fact Families
• Related number sentences using the
same set of numbers.
15 – 8 = 7
15 - 7 = 8
8 + 7 = 15
7 + 8 = 15
Minus 0
• Subtracting 0 from a number does not
affect the total.
10 – 0 = 10
5–0=5
Minus 9
• Subtracting 9 is equivalent to
subtracting 10 and adding 1.
12-9=___ 12-10=2 then 2+1=3
Decompose the Subtrahend
• Decompose the subtrahend to form a
known fact.
Decompose the Minuend
• Decompose the minuend to form a
known fact.