Lesson 5: Subtract Whole Numbers

Students then learn how to subtract numbers from up to one million.


When subtracting multi-digit numbers students should remember to align the place value positions vertically before beginning to subtract. We teach them how to borrow and regroup using their knowledge of place value.


We subtract when we know a total and a part, and we are looking for the missing part. Students learn that the answer to a subtraction problem is called the difference. Subtraction is not commutative like addition is.