Subtraction within twenty

You learn subtractions to twenty where the ten stays and you only take away from the ones.

How to work it out

  1. Keep the ten.
  2. Take the ones away from the ones.
  3. If a 10 goes too, take it away from the ten.

18 − 5

  1. Leave the 10 in 18 alone.
  2. Take away from the ones: 8 − 5 = 3.
  3. Put the 10 back: 10 + 3 = 13.
More examples

17 − 4

  1. Leave the 10 in 17 alone.
  2. Take away from the ones: 7 − 4 = 3.
  3. Put the 10 back: 10 + 3 = 13.

15 − 12

  1. Take 10 from the ten: 10 − 10 = 0.
  2. Take the ones from the ones: 5 − 2 = 3.
  3. So 15 − 12 = 3.