Subtraction is the inverse of addition.

Subtraction is NOT commutative. 5-3 is not the same as 3-5 [explicitly taught in Yr 2 NC]

Subtraction is NOT associative. 10-3-2 is not the same as 10 – (3-2)

There are three structures of subtraction:

1. Reduction - Take away - Often mistaken for the only model which leads to misunderstandings.

2. Partitioning - The first number (the minuend) is split into two parts (Subtrahend and difference).

3. Comparative Difference

equal to, take, take away, less, minus, subtract, leaves, distance between, how many more, how many fewer / less than, most, least, count back , how many left, how much less is_?, difference, count on, strategy, regroup, exchange, decrease, inverse, expanded horizontal method, formal column method, ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, decimal point, decimal places, tenths, hundredths, thousandths

Please click on your child's year group to see the subtraction objectives for that year group and how they are taught at Corpus Christi.

You may want to refer to the previous year group to see the progression.