How to Subtract One-Digit from Two-Digit Numbers Without Regrouping

      Subtraction is taking away one number from another.

Imagine you have 18 cupcakes and you eat 6.

How many do you have left? 

You need to subtract!

18 - 6 = ?

In the past, you drew pictures or counted down. That’s harder to do with two-digit numbers.

Let's learn to subtract using our old friend column form! 😂

1️⃣ Start by writing the numbers on top of each other, in columns.

Line up the Ones digits on the right (👉)! ✅

2️⃣ Next, subtract the Ones column first.

This means we subtract:

8 - 6 = ____

Do you know the answer? 🤔

Go back to the previous lesson on subtracting one-digit numbers if you don't know it from heart. ⚡️

Tip: You can count down, or ask yourself, "6 plus what number equals 8?"

8 - 6 = 2

Good job! 🤗 This 2 goes in the Ones column below the answer line.

3️⃣ Next, we subtract the Tens column. 

There’s nothing in the second number, so we just bring down the top number.

You have 12 cupcakes left! ✅

Great job. You just used column form to subtract from a two-digit number! 👩‍🚀

Another Example

26 - 3 = __

1️⃣ First, let’s write the problem in column form. Did you guess that? 😂

2️⃣ Now, let’s subtract the Ones column.

3️⃣ Great! Now, we can bring down the 2 in the Tens column.

You’ve got it! 🤗 

Tip: It's a lot like using column form for addition. You subtract one column at a time, starting with the Ones column. 👍

Now, practice what you just learned. 😺 You'll remember for long.