Solve Simple Subtractions by Counting Backwards

In this activity, we will carry out simple subtractions by counting back.

Examples

Work out the subtractions.

500 - 6 = ____

5,000 - 6 = _____

Answers

To work out 500 - 6, we count back from 500 to get 494

To work out 5,000 - 6, we count back from 5,000 to get 4,994

Don't worry that these are big numbers - drawing just a part of a number line will help you to picture what you need to do.

Let's practise this in the questions that follow.