What is Subtraction?

Subtraction is a way of finding out how much is left when you take something away. For example, if you have 5 cookies and you eat 2, subtraction helps you figure out that you have 3 cookies left. It’s like starting with a whole group and removing some to see what remains. The minus sign (−) is used to show that you are subtracting or taking away.

Subtraction is used in many everyday situations. You use it when you spend money and want to know how much you have left. If you start with 10 dollars and buy something that costs 4 dollars, subtraction helps you see that you still have 6 dollars. You also use subtraction when you’re figuring out how much longer until an event starts, or how many more points your team needs to win a game. Any time you’re taking something away or finding the difference between two amounts, you’re using subtraction.