What words mean subtraction? Kindergarten explanation

📚 What is Subtraction?

Subtraction is taking away a number from another number. It's like you have a few toys and then you give some away. The number of toys you're left with is the answer to your subtraction problem! We use the minus sign (-) to show subtraction. For example, $5 - 2 = 3$ means we start with 5, take away 2, and are left with 3.

🧮 Words That Mean Subtraction

Lots of words tell us we need to subtract. Here are some important ones:

• ➖ Minus: This is the most common word! Like in the example above, "5 minus 2" means 5 take away 2.
• ⬇️ Decrease: If something decreases, it gets smaller. "Decrease 8 by 3" means $8 - 3$.
• 🔪 Difference: The difference is the answer when you subtract. If you ask, "What is the difference between 10 and 4?" you're doing $10 - 4$.
• 🍂 Take Away: This is like giving something away. "Take away 1 from 6" means $6 - 1$.
• 🦀 Fewer: Fewer means 'not as many'. "3 fewer than 7" means $7 - 3$.
• 💨 Less: Similar to fewer, less means taking some away. "5 less than 9" means $9 - 5$.
• 🎁 Deduct: Deduct means to subtract or take away. "Deduct 2 from 10" means $10 - 2$.

✏️ Example Problems

Let's try some subtraction problems using these words!

• ❓ What is 7 minus 3? Answer: $7 - 3 = 4$
• 📉 Decrease 9 by 2. Answer: $9 - 2 = 7$
• 🎯 What is the difference between 6 and 1? Answer: $6 - 1 = 5$
• 🧸 Take away 4 from 8. Answer: $8 - 4 = 4$
• 🎈 2 fewer than 5 is what? Answer: $5 - 2 = 3$
• 💎 1 less than 10 is what? Answer: $10 - 1 = 9$
• 💰 Deduct 5 from 12. Answer: $12 - 5 = 7$

✅ Tips for Understanding Subtraction

• 🖐️ Use your fingers! You can start with a number and then fold down fingers to take away.
• 🧸 Use toys or blocks! These can help you visualize taking things away.
• 🖼️ Draw pictures! Draw circles or other shapes and cross them out to subtract.

📝 Practice Quiz

Solve these subtraction problems:

1. 8 minus 2 = ?
2. Decrease 6 by 4 = ?
3. What is the difference between 9 and 3?
4. Take away 1 from 5 = ?
5. 3 fewer than 7 is what?
6. 2 less than 10 is what?
7. Deduct 4 from 11 = ?

Answers:

1. 6
2. 2
3. 6
4. 4
5. 4
6. 8
7. 7