Subtraction Practice Problems: Visual Methods & Exercises

Master subtraction with step-by-step visual examples, vertical subtraction methods, and interactive practice problems. Learn basic subtraction facts and multi-digit techniques.

📚Practice Subtraction Skills with Interactive Problems
  • Solve basic subtraction problems using visual counting methods with objects
  • Master vertical subtraction technique for single and multi-digit numbers
  • Apply subtraction skills to real-world word problems and scenarios
  • Practice subtracting by counting backwards and using number lines
  • Learn to break down two-digit subtraction using tens and ones
  • Build confidence with step-by-step subtraction problem solving strategies

Understanding Subtraction

Complete explanation with examples

Subtraction

A subtraction exercise is an exercise where we take away something from a certain amount.
When we see the sign - we are shown that it's a subtraction exercise where we need to subtract something from a certain amount.

Let's look at an example –

Diana has 77 orange balls

Orange dots arranged in a 3x3 grid representing subtraction in math concepts for visual learning.

Eric took 33 balls from Diana.

Three orange dots in a horizontal line used to visually represent subtraction in math education.

How many balls does Diana have left?

Let's look again at Diana's balls
We know that Eric took 33 balls from her, so let's put aside the three balls that Eric took and count how many Diana has left.

Math subtraction example using orange dots above the names Diana and Eric to visually represent quantities. Ideal for educational content.

Diana has 44 balls left, therefore we obtain the following result:
73=47-3=4

Detailed explanation

Practice Subtraction

Test your knowledge with 23 quizzes

\( 86-34= \)

Examples with solutions for Subtraction

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

If we have 67 blocks in total, how many blocks will remain if we remove 5 tens and 4 ones?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's consider the following steps:

  • Step 1: Understand the removal of blocks. We are removing 5 tens and 4 ones. One "ten" equals 10 units, so 5 tens equal 5×10=50 5 \times 10 = 50 units.
  • Step 2: Calculate the total number of blocks to be removed. We have 50 (from tens) + 4 (ones) = 54 units to be removed.
  • Step 3: Perform the subtraction from the total number of blocks. The total number of blocks is 67. Therefore, we calculate 6754=13 67 - 54 = 13 .

After performing the above calculations, we confirm that the number of blocks remaining is 13 13 .

Answer:

13 13

Exercise #2

If we have 85 blocks in total, how many blocks will remain if we remove 4 tens and 1 one?

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we begin by calculating the total number of blocks to remove.

Step 1: Calculate the blocks in 4 tens.

  • A "ten" refers to 10 blocks. Thus, 4 tens equal 4×10=40 4 \times 10 = 40 blocks.

Step 2: Calculate the total blocks to remove by combining tens and ones.

  • We are also removing 1 more block, so the total becomes 40+1=41 40 + 1 = 41 blocks.

Step 3: Subtract the total removed blocks from the initial total to determine how many blocks remain.

  • 8541=44 85 - 41 = 44 .

Therefore, the number of blocks remaining is 44 44 .

Answer:

44 44

Exercise #3

If we have 55 blocks in total, how many blocks will remain if we remove 5 tens and 4 ones?

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine how many blocks remain, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Calculate how many blocks 5 tens represent: 5×10=50 5 \times 10 = 50 .
  • Step 2: Add the 4 individual blocks being removed: 50+4=54 50 + 4 = 54 .
  • Step 3: Subtract the total removed blocks from the original number of blocks: 5554=1 55 - 54 = 1 .

After performing these calculations, we find that the number of blocks remaining is 1 1 .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 1 1 .

Answer:

1 1

Exercise #4

What number will we get if we subtract 2 tens and 5 units from the number 36.

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we begin by determining what needs to be subtracted from the number 36. We have "2 tens" and "5 units" to subtract:

  • 2 tens is equal to 20 because one ten is equal to 10.
  • 5 units are simply the number 5 added directly.

Therefore, the total amount to subtract is 20+5=25 20 + 5 = 25 .

Next, we perform the subtraction operation:

Starting with the number 36, subtract 25:

  • 3625=11 36 - 25 = 11

After performing the subtraction, we conclude that the final result is:

11 11 .

Answer:

11 11

Exercise #5

If we have 79 blocks in total, how many blocks will remain if we remove 2 tens and 3 ones?

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's solve the problem step by step:

We begin with a total of 79 79 blocks.

First, we need to determine how many blocks are removed:

  • Two tens, which equals 2×10=20 2 \times 10 = 20 blocks.
  • Three ones, equaling 3 3 blocks.

Add the blocks removed together: 20+3=23 20 + 3 = 23 blocks removed in total.

Now, subtract the total blocks removed from the starting total:

Total remaining=7923=56\text{Total remaining} = 79 - 23 = 56

Therefore, the number of blocks remaining is 56 56 .

Answer:

56 56

Frequently Asked Questions

What is subtraction and how do I recognize subtraction problems?

+
Subtraction is taking away a certain amount from a starting number. You can recognize subtraction problems by the minus sign (-) which shows you need to subtract or take away something from the original amount.

How do I solve basic subtraction problems step by step?

+
Start with the larger number and count backwards by the amount you're subtracting. For example, with 7-3, start at 7 and count back 3 numbers: 6, 5, 4. You can also use visual objects like balls or dots to physically remove the amount being subtracted.

What is vertical subtraction and when should I use it?

+
Vertical subtraction involves writing numbers in columns with ones under ones and tens under tens. This method is helpful for larger numbers like 46-24, where you subtract each column separately starting from the right.

How do I subtract two-digit numbers without drawing pictures?

+
Break the numbers into tens and ones. For 65-32: subtract tens (60-30=30) and ones (5-2=3) separately, then add the results (30+3=33). This makes larger subtraction problems much easier to solve.

What are some common mistakes students make in subtraction?

+
Common mistakes include: 1) Subtracting the smaller digit from the larger digit regardless of position, 2) Forgetting to borrow in vertical subtraction, 3) Mixing up the order of numbers, 4) Not aligning digits properly in vertical format.

How can I check if my subtraction answer is correct?

+
Add your answer to the number you subtracted. If you get the original starting number, your subtraction is correct. For example, if 17-4=13, then 13+4 should equal 17.

When do I need to use borrowing in subtraction problems?

+
You need borrowing when the digit in the ones place of the number you're subtracting from is smaller than the digit you're subtracting. For example, in 52-27, you can't subtract 7 from 2, so you need to borrow from the tens place.

What real-world situations use subtraction skills?

+
Subtraction is used in many daily situations: calculating change when shopping, determining how many items are left after some are used, finding the difference in scores or measurements, and figuring out remaining time or distance.

More Subtraction Questions

Continue Your Math Journey

Suggested Topics to Practice in Advance

Practice by Question Type