Picture subtraction, step by step

Subtraction makes sense to a young child as taking things away.

The question
=

10 − 5

••••••••••
••••• ✗✗✗✗✗
••••• ✗✗✗✗✗
10 − 5 =5
  1. Start with all 10 and take 5 away — cross them off one at a time, and what is LEFT is the answer, not what you crossed.
  2. 5 crossed off leaves 5 standing.
  3. 10 − 5 = 5. Counting back from 10 gets there too, and is quicker once the numbers are too big to draw.

How it works.

  1. 01

    Start with all 10 and take 5 away — cross them off one at a time, and what is LEFT is the answer, not what you crossed.

  2. 02

    5 crossed off leaves 5 standing.

  3. 03

    10 − 5 = 5. Counting back from 10 gets there too, and is quicker once the numbers are too big to draw.