Making 10 to Subtract: Strategy Development

Free sample questions, a clear explanation, and 5 practice skills with an AI tutor that guides without giving the answer away.

The 'Make a 10' Subtraction Superpower!

Hi, Math Explorer! Have you ever tried to solve a tricky subtraction problem like 14 - 6? Sometimes, counting backward can take a while. Today, we're going to learn a super-fast strategy that makes you a subtraction superhero: Making 10!

Imagine you're on a school bus with 14 friends. You need to drop off 6 friends. The 'Make a 10' strategy is like making a special stop at "Ten Town" first! It's an easy and friendly place to be.

Let's Ride the Bus to Ten Town!

Our problem is 14 - 6.

First Stop: Get to 10. We have 14 friends on the bus. To get to 10 friends, we need to let 4 friends off. So, we take that 4 from the 6 friends who need to leave.
14 - 4 = 10. We've arrived at Ten Town!
Second Stop: Drop off the rest. We needed to drop off 6 friends, but we've only dropped off 4 so far. How many more need to get off? That's right, 2 more! (Because 4 + 2 = 6).
10 - 2 = 8.

So, 14 - 6 = 8. There are 8 friends left on the bus! See? We just broke a big step into two smaller, easier steps.

Key Takeaway! 💡

To solve a problem like 13 - 5:

Break apart the smaller number (5) into two parts. The first part gets you to 10. (5 becomes 3 and 2).
Take away the first part: 13 - 3 = 10.
Take away the second part from 10: 10 - 2 = 8.
You found the answer: 8!

Another Tool for Your Toolbox!

You might already know how to use a number line or count back to subtract. Those are great strategies! Think of 'Making 10' as another amazing tool in your math toolbox. It's especially helpful when you don't have pictures or counters. It helps your brain see the numbers in a friendly way. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be solving subtraction problems in a flash! You are a subtraction superstar!

Sample questions

1. Look at the ten frames showing 12. If you take away 4, what is left? (Hint: Take away to get to 10 first!)

○ 7

✓ 8

○ 9

○ 16

Answer: 8 — Think about taking away 2 to get to 10, then taking away 2 more.

2. You have 15 cookies. You eat 7 cookies. How many are left? Use the 'make 10' strategy.

○ 6

○ 7

✓ 8

○ 12

Answer: 8 — First, take away 5 cookies to get to 10. How many more do you need to take away from the 7?

3. There are 13 birds on a branch. 6 birds fly away. How many birds are left? Show your thinking using ten frames.

○ 5

○ 6

○ 8

✓ 7

Answer: 7 — Imagine taking 3 birds away to get to 10. How many more do you need to take away from the 6?

Skills in this topic

Use ten frames to visualize 'making 10' when subtracting from a number greater than 10 (e.g., 13 - 5).
Subtract by taking away to 10 first (e.g., 13 - 5 = 13 - 3 - 2 = 10 - 2).
Apply the 'making 10' strategy to subtract numbers within 20 (pictorial/abstract).
Solve subtraction equations within 20 using the 'making 10' strategy.
Compare and contrast the 'making 10' strategy with other subtraction methods for problems like 15 - 7.

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