Steps to use the make a ten strategy for subtraction

📚 Understanding the 'Make a Ten' Strategy

The 'make a ten' strategy is a clever mental math technique used to simplify subtraction, especially when dealing with numbers that are close to ten. Instead of directly subtracting, you break down the number you're subtracting into smaller parts to first reach ten. Once you're at ten, the remaining subtraction becomes much easier!

📜 A Brief History

While pinpointing the exact origin is difficult, the 'make a ten' strategy aligns with the development of number sense and mental math techniques across various cultures. It's based on the fundamental understanding of place value and the importance of the number ten in our number system. It's a cornerstone of early math education, helping kids visualize and manipulate numbers more effectively.

🔑 Key Principles

• 🍎 Decomposition: Breaking down a number into smaller, more manageable parts. For example, breaking down 7 into 2 and 5.
• ➕ Composition to Ten: Combining parts to form the number ten.
• ➖ Simplified Subtraction: Performing subtraction from ten, which is often easier than subtracting from other numbers.

🚶‍♀️Step-by-Step Guide to Using the 'Make a Ten' Strategy for Subtraction

Let's break down how to use this strategy with examples:

1. 📝 Step 1: Identify the Problem

   Start with a subtraction problem. For example: $13 - 5 = ?$

2. ➗ Step 2: Break Down the Subtrahend

   The subtrahend is the number you are subtracting (in this case, 5). Break it down into two parts, where one part makes the first number a '10'.

   To make 13 into 10, you need to subtract 3. So, break down 5 into 3 and 2 (because $5 = 3 + 2$).

3. ➖ Step 3: Subtract to Make Ten

   Subtract the first part from the original number to get 10.

   $13 - 3 = 10$

4. 🧮 Step 4: Subtract the Remaining Part

   Subtract the remaining part of the subtrahend from 10.

   $10 - 2 = 8$

5. ✅ Step 5: The Answer!

   The result is the answer to the original subtraction problem.

   Therefore, $13 - 5 = 8$

💡 Real-World Examples

• 🍪 Sharing Cookies: You have 14 cookies and want to give 6 to your friends. How many will you have left? $14-6=?$. Break down 6 into 4 and 2. $14-4 = 10$, then $10-2=8$. You'll have 8 cookies left.
• 🧸 Playing with Toys: You have 12 toys and your brother borrows 5. How many toys do you have now? $12-5=?$. Break down 5 into 2 and 3. $12-2=10$, then $10-3=7$. You have 7 toys now.

📝 Practice Quiz

Try these problems using the 'make a ten' strategy:

• ❓ $11 - 4 = ?$
• ❓ $15 - 7 = ?$
• ❓ $12 - 3 = ?$
• ❓ $14 - 5 = ?$
• ❓ $16 - 8 = ?$
• ❓ $13 - 6 = ?$
• ❓ $17 - 9 = ?$

⭐ Conclusion

The 'make a ten' strategy is a valuable tool for building number sense and improving mental math skills. It allows you to simplify subtraction problems and visualize numbers in a more concrete way. Practice regularly, and you'll become a subtraction superstar! ✨