What is Subtraction?
Subtraction means taking away some things from a group to find out how many are left. It is the opposite of addition.
We use the minus sign (−) to show subtraction. The answer is called the difference.
What is What is Subtraction? - Class 1 Maths (Subtraction (Grade 1))?
Subtraction is finding how many are left when we take away from a group.
5 − 2 = 3
whole − part = difference
The number we start with is the whole. The number we take away is the part. The answer is the difference.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Taking Away Apples
Question: Ria has 7 apples. She eats 2. How many apples are left?
Think:
- Start with 7 apples
- Take away 2 → subtract
- 7 − 2 = 5
Answer: Ria has 5 apples left.
Example 2: Birds Flying Away
Question: 9 birds are on a tree. 4 fly away. How many are left?
Think:
- Start: 9 birds
- Fly away: 4 → take away
- 9 − 4 = 5
Answer: 5 birds are left.
Example 3: Using Fingers
Question: What is 6 − 3?
Think:
- Hold up 6 fingers
- Fold down 3 fingers
- Count the fingers still up: 1, 2, 3
Answer: 6 − 3 = 3.
Example 4: Aman's Marbles
Question: Aman has 8 marbles. He gives 5 to Kavi. How many does Aman have left?
Think:
- Start with 8, give away 5
- 8 − 5 = 3
Answer: Aman has 3 marbles left.
Example 5: On the Number Line
Question: Show 5 − 2 on a number line.
Think:
- Start at 5
- Jump back 2 times: 4, 3
0 — 1 — 2 — 3 ← 4 ← 5
Answer: 5 − 2 = 3.
Example 6: Eating Chapatis
Question: There are 4 chapatis. Priya eats 1. How many are left?
Think:
- 4 − 1 = 3
Answer: 3 chapatis are left.
Example 7: Difference of 10 and 6
Question: Find the difference of 10 and 6.
Think:
- Difference means subtract
- 10 − 6 = 4
Answer: The difference is 4.
Key Points to Remember
- Subtraction means taking away from a group.
- The minus sign (−) means subtract.
- The answer is called the difference.
- The difference is always less than (or equal to) the starting number.
- Clue words: left, remaining, take away, less, fewer, how many more.
- Subtraction is the opposite of addition: if 3 + 4 = 7, then 7 − 4 = 3.
Practice Problems
- What is 8 − 3?
- Aditi has 6 pencils. She loses 2. How many are left?
- Find the difference of 9 and 5.
- Show 7 − 4 on a number line.
- 10 − 7 = ___
- There are 5 toffees. Kavi eats all of them. How many are left?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is subtraction?
Subtraction means taking away from a group to find how many are left. It uses the minus sign (−).
Q2. What does the minus sign mean?
The minus sign (−) means subtract or take away. In 7 − 3, we take 3 away from 7.
Q3. What is a difference?
The difference is the answer of a subtraction. In 9 − 4 = 5, the difference is 5.
Q4. How is subtraction related to addition?
They are opposites. If 3 + 5 = 8, then 8 − 5 = 3 and 8 − 3 = 5.
Q5. How do I know when to subtract?
Subtract when the problem says: take away, left, remaining, fewer, how many more, less.
Q6. Can I subtract a bigger number from a smaller one in Grade 1?
No. In Grade 1, we always subtract a smaller number from a bigger one. For example, 3 − 5 is not covered yet.
