What is subtraction within 10?

Subtracting with numbers no bigger than 10, such as 9 − 4 or 10 − 7. These are the first subtraction facts children learn, in kindergarten and grade 1.

How many subtraction facts are there within 10?

66, counting facts with 0. Many are easy: taking away 0 changes nothing, taking away 1 gives the number before, and a number take away itself is 0.

What is the best way to learn subtraction within 10?

Learn the addition facts first, then think of each subtraction as an addition: 8 − 5 is “5 plus what makes 8?”

When should kids know subtraction within 10?

By the end of grade 1. The Common Core asks children to subtract within 10 fluently (1.OA.C.6).

Should my child count back to subtract?

For taking away 1, 2 or 3, yes. For bigger numbers, thinking of the addition fact is quicker and makes fewer mistakes.

Subtraction within 10

All the subtraction facts within 10, with take-away pictures, three easy strategies and practice. Parent help is below.

🧒 Kids: take away within 10!

Look at the facts. Then tap Practice and answer!

▶ Practice ⏱️ 1-minute challenge

Taking away from 10

10 − 0 = 10
10 − 1 = 9
10 − 2 = 8
10 − 3 = 7
10 − 4 = 6
10 − 5 = 5
10 − 6 = 4
10 − 7 = 3
10 − 8 = 2
10 − 9 = 1
10 − 10 = 0

💡 Trick: 10 − 7? Think 7 + 3 = 10. So the answer is 3!

More facts: Within 10 · Counting back · Counting up · Fact families · Using 10 · Within 20

For parents and teachers ↓

This part is for grown-ups: the trick that makes these facts easy, pictures to draw, what to say, common mistakes, questions with answers and a free worksheet.

The trick: think of the addition fact

Every subtraction fact is an addition fact turned around. If your child knows 7 + 3 = 10, they also know 10 − 7 = 3 and 10 − 3 = 7. So the quickest way to learn subtraction within 10 is to learn the addition facts within 10 first, especially the pairs that make 10, and then ask “what goes with this number to make that one?”

8 − 5: think 5 + ? = 8. 5 + 3 = 8, so 8 − 5 = 3
10 − 4: 4 and 6 make 10, so 10 − 4 = 6
7 − 1: one less than 7 is 6
9 − 9: a number take away itself is 0

Patterns to spot

Taking away 0 leaves the number the same: 6 − 0 = 6.
Taking away 1 gives the number before: 8 − 1 = 7.
A number take away itself is 0: 5 − 5 = 0.
Taking away all but one leaves 1: 9 − 8 = 1.
The pairs that make 10 answer every “10 take away” fact: 10 − 6 = 4 because 6 and 4 make 10.
Unlike addition, order matters in subtraction: 7 − 3 = 4, but 3 − 7 is not a whole number.

See it: pictures to draw with your child

Draw these on paper or a whiteboard. Seeing the counters makes the fact stick.

8 counters, 3 crossed out: 8 − 3 = 5. Children can see the 5 that are left.

On a number line, start at 9 and hop back 3: 8, 7, 6. So 9 − 3 = 6.

Facts you already know

There are 66 subtraction facts within 10, but most are easy. Taking away 0 (11 facts), taking away 1 (10 facts), and a number take away itself (11 facts) follow simple rules. Facts like 10 − 7 come from the pairs that make 10. That leaves a small group, such as 8 − 5 and 9 − 4, which children answer by thinking of the addition fact they already know.

In real life: Take-away moments happen all day: “There are 7 grapes. You eat 2. How many are left?” Ask “how many are left?” and “how many more?” as often as “how many altogether?”.

Worked examples

Example 1: 8 − 3 with objects

Put out 8 blocks.
Take 3 away and hide them.
Count what is left: 5.
So 8 − 3 = 5.
Then check with addition: 5 + 3 = 8.

Example 2: 10 − 6 with a ten frame

Fill a ten frame with 10 counters.
Cover 6.
Four boxes are still showing, so 10 − 6 = 4.
The pair 6 and 4 make 10.

Example 3: a story problem

“There are 9 birds on a fence.
4 fly away.
How many are left?”
Write 9 − 4.
Think 4 + ? = 9: 4 + 5 = 9.
So 5 birds are left.

Common mistakes

Counting the start number when counting back9 − 3: counts “9, 8, 7” and says 7.Fix: say 9, then count back three new numbers: 8, 7, 6.

Subtracting the smaller from the biggerSees 3 − 5 in a puzzle and writes 2.Fix: read it as “3 take away 5”. Within 10, the first number must be the bigger one.

Thinking minus 0 gives 0Says 6 − 0 = 0.Fix: 6 take away nothing is still 6. Show 6 apples and take none away.

What to say to your child

A short script for your first session. Pause after each line and let your child answer.

“Here are 7 cars. I’ll take 2 away.” (Hides 2.)
“How many cars are left?” (Counts: 5.)
“We started with 7, took away 2 and have 5 left. We write 7 − 2 = 5.”
“Now let’s check: 5 and 2 more make…?” (7!) “Adding puts them back.”
“What is 10 − 3? Which number goes with 3 to make 10?” (7!)

Questions to try (answers below)

Ask these out loud or write them down. The last one is a stretch.

6 − 2
9 − 1
10 − 5
8 − 8
7 − 4
10 − 7
9 − ? = 6
Mia has 8 balloons. 3 pop. How many are left?
Stretch: write all the ways to take away from 6 that leave 2.

Show the answers

4
8
5
0
3
3
3
5 balloons
Only one: 6 − 4 = 2

Games to play at home

Snack take-away

Put out a few crackers. Eat some together and ask how many are left.

Hide and count

Show 9 toys, hide some under a cloth and ask how many are hiding.

Ten-pin bowling

Set up 10 plastic bottles. After each roll, ask how many fell and how many are still standing.

A 5-day plan for subtraction within 10

Ten minutes a day is enough. Short, regular practice helps facts stick far better than one long session.

Day 1: Learn it with objects. Use the pictures above with real counters, fingers or toys.
Day 2: Read the script together, then ask the first four questions.
Day 3: Play one round in the practice tool at the top of the page, with no timer.
Day 4: Play one of the games above for ten minutes.
Day 5: Ask the rest of the questions, then try the 1-minute challenge and write down the score.

Next week, repeat the round in the practice tool and compare the fact map. When most facts are green, move on to the next page.

By grade

Kindergarten (Common Core K.OA.A.1 and K.OA.A.2): take away with objects and drawings and solve take-away stories within 10. Grade 1 (1.OA.C.6): subtract within 10 fluently, using strategies like thinking of the addition fact. In India this is class 1 maths (NCERT Joyful Mathematics).

More for each grade: Kindergarten math; Grade 1 math and the CBSE class 1 maths guide.

What comes next

When most facts within 10 come quickly, move on to counting back for taking away 1, 2 or 3, then fact families, which link every subtraction fact to two addition facts. Keep practicing addition alongside: the addition within 10 page uses the same facts the other way round.

Worksheet and more practice

Print a free worksheet with an answer key, or keep practicing online with the subtraction practice trainer.

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More: subtraction for kids · subtraction facts strategies · subtraction chart · number bonds