1. Subtraction Strategies
– = 6
minuend subtrahend difference

2. Counting Back 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 – 2 =___ Count back 2 from 9. 9,8,7
9 – 2 =___
Count back form the minuend and count back the amount of the subtrahend
Count back 2 from 9. 9,8,7 2 1

3. Inverse Doubles
The minuend will be even, and the subtrahend and the difference will either both be even or both be odd.
12 – 6 = 6
even even even
14 – 7 = 7
even odd odd

4. Inverse Double Plus/Minus 1
The minuend will be odd, and if the subtrahend is even, then the difference will be odd.
The minuend will be odd, and if the subtrahend is odd, then the difference will be even.

5. Counting Up Begin with the subtrahend and count up to the minuend.
14 – 9= 5
10, 11, 12, 13, 14
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

6. Fact Families Related number sentences using the same set of numbers.
15 – 8 = 7
= 8
8 + 7 = 15
7 + 8 = 15

7. Minus 0 Subtracting 0 from a number does not affect the total.
10 – 0 = 10
5 – 0 = 5

8. Minus 9 Subtracting 9 is equivalent to subtracting 10 and adding 1.
12-9=___ =2 then 2+1=3

9. Decompose the Subtrahend
Decompose the subtrahend to form a known fact.

10. Decompose the Minuend
Decompose the minuend to form a known fact.