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Solve take-away word problems

Take-away word problems represent a situation in which a whole quantity is reduced by a known amount, leaving an unknown remainder; the learner identifies these quantities, represents their relationship with drawings, a number line, or an equation such as a−b=?a-b=?, and solves with whole numbers within 20. The learner interprets subtraction as finding what remains, rather than simply reacting to keywords, and checks the result by adding the amount removed back to the remainder; multi-digit, negative-number, and generalized unknown-position problems are not included.

Detailed Explanation: Solve take-away word problems

A take-away problem tells you that you start with a whole amount, remove some, and find what remains.

Look for:

  • Starting amount: how many there were at first
  • Amount taken away: how many were removed
  • Amount left: what you need to find

Example:
Mia has 13 apples. She gives away 5 apples. How many apples are left?

  1. The whole amount is (13)(13) apples.
  2. The amount taken away is 55 apples.
  3. Write a subtraction equation:
13−5=?13-5=?
  1. Count back 5 from 13:
13→12→11→10→9→813 \mathbin{\to} 12 \mathbin{\to} 11 \mathbin{\to} 10 \mathbin{\to} 9 \mathbin{\to} 8

So,

13−5=813-5=8

Mia has 8 apples left.

Check your answer by adding the apples left to the apples given away:

8+5=138+5=13

The check matches the starting amount, so the answer is correct.

Learn by doing: Solve take-away word problems

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    Picture Numbers - Subtracting - Picture and Instruction to Number (Within 20)

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