Math can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain, especially when subtraction comes into play! But fear not, subtraction doesn’t have to be scary. There are fun tricks and strategies we can use to make it easier and even, dare I say, enjoyable.
One of my favorite tricks is using “tens facts.” What’s a tens fact? It’s simply knowing all the pairs of numbers that add up to ten (like 6 + 4, or 8 + 2). These little nuggets of knowledge can be subtraction superheroes! Let’s explore how.
Show the Tens Fact You Used to Write the Difference
Let’s say we need to solve 13 – 5. Instead of counting backward, which can be tricky, think about how many to add to 5 to get to 10. We know 5 + 5 = 10, so we used the tens fact of 5. See, knowing those facts is really useful and the show the tens fact you used to write the difference is a common strategy.
Now, how much more do we need to get to 13? Well, 10 + 3 = 13. So, in total, we added 5 (to get to 10) and then 3 (to get to 13). That’s a total of 5+3=8. This means 13 – 5 = 8. Easy peasy, right?
Let’s try another one: 16 – 8. Think about the tens fact for 8: it’s 2 (because 8 + 2 = 10). So, we added 2 to 8 to get to 10. Then, we need to add 6 more to get to 16. Therefore, 2 + 6 = 8, so 16 – 8 = 8. Once you know this strategy you will show the tens fact you used very quickly.
This method is particularly helpful for subtraction problems that “cross” over the ten. It breaks down a larger problem into smaller, more manageable steps. Think of it as building a bridge: first you get to the nice round number of ten, and then you finish the journey to your final number.
The keyword term we use for this article is “difference”. The word “difference” in this context is a noun. It represents the result of a subtraction problem. Understanding that “difference” is what we’re trying to find helps frame the whole approach to the show the tens fact you used write the difference strategy.
Practice makes perfect! Try using this tens fact method with different subtraction problems. You can even make it a game: challenge yourself or your kids to solve subtraction problems using this strategy as quickly as possible. Soon, you’ll be subtraction superstars, all thanks to the power of tens facts!