Subtract by Breaking Into Tens & Ones - Math Worksheets - SplashLearn - Free Printable

This worksheet teaches “Subtract by Breaking” — a strategy where you break the first number (the minuend) into 10 and some ones, then subtract the second number (the subtrahend) from 10, and finally add back the leftover ones.

Let’s solve each problem step by step:

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🔹 Problem 1: `15 - 9 = 10 - ___ + ___ = ___`

- Break 15 into 10 + 5
- Subtract 9 from 10 → `10 - 9 = 1`
- Then add the leftover 5 → `1 + 5 = 6`
✔ So:
`15 - 9 = 10 - 9 + 5 = 6`

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🔹 Problem 2: `11 - 4 = 10 - ___ + ___ = ___`

- Break 11 into 10 + 1
- Subtract 4 from 10 → `10 - 4 = 6`
- Add the leftover 1 → `6 + 1 = 7`
✔ So:
`11 - 4 = 10 - 4 + 1 = 7`

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🔹 Problem 3: `14 - 8 = 10 - ___ + ___ = ___`

- Break 14 into 10 + 4
- Subtract 8 from 10 → `10 - 8 = 2`
- Add the leftover 4 → `2 + 4 = 6`
✔ So:
`14 - 8 = 10 - 8 + 4 = 6`

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🔹 Problem 4: `13 - 5 = 10 - ___ + ___ = ___`

- Break 13 into 10 + 3
- Subtract 5 from 10 → `10 - 5 = 5`
- Add the leftover 3 → `5 + 3 = 8`
✔ So:
`13 - 5 = 10 - 5 + 3 = 8`

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🔹 Problem 5: `16 - 7 = 10 - ___ + ___ = ___`

- Break 16 into 10 + 6
- Subtract 7 from 10 → `10 - 7 = 3`
- Add the leftover 6 → `3 + 6 = 9`
✔ So:
`16 - 7 = 10 - 7 + 6 = 9`

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. `15 - 9 = 10 - 9 + 5 = 6`
2. `11 - 4 = 10 - 4 + 1 = 7`
3. `14 - 8 = 10 - 8 + 4 = 6`
4. `13 - 5 = 10 - 5 + 3 = 8`
5. `16 - 7 = 10 - 7 + 6 = 9`

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## 💡 Why This Strategy Works:
It simplifies subtraction by using 10 as a friendly number — kids often find it easier to subtract from 10 (like 10 - 8 = 2) than from numbers like 14 or 16. Then they just add the leftover “ones” part.

This is also known as the “Make Ten” or “Decompose to Subtract” strategy — very common in early elementary math (Grades 1–2).

Let me know if you’d like a visual diagram for any of these!