<p>By the end of this lesson and the next few, you should be able to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Use subtraction notation</li>
<li>Model subtraction of whole numbers</li>
<li>Subtract whole numbers</li>
<li>Translate word phrases to math notation</li>
<li>Subtract whole numbers in applications</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/99a37094-0696-453f-a159-8d8efb5d33c9"><img alt="subtraction" class="size-full wp-image-101873 alignnone" height="589" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/99a37094-0696-453f-a159-8d8efb5d33c9" width="800"/></a></p>
<h2>Use Subtraction Notation</h2>
<p>Suppose there are seven bananas in a bowl. Elana uses three of them to make a smoothie. How many bananas are left in the bowl? To answer the question, we subtract three from seven. When we subtract, we take one number away from another to find the difference. The notation we use to subtract \(3\) from \(7\) is</p>
<p>\(7-3\)</p>
<p>We read \(7-3\) as <em>seven minus three</em> and the result is <em>the difference of seven and three</em>.</p>
<div data-type="note">
<header>
<h3>Subtraction Notation</h3>
</header>
<section>
<p>To describe subtraction, we can use symbols and words.</p>
<table data-label="" summary="This is a table with two rows and five columns. The top row is a header row. Each column is labeled from left to right operation, notation, expression, read as, and result. Under operation it says subtraction; under notation is the minus sign; under expression is seven minus three, under read as are the words seven minus three, under result are the words the difference of 7 and 3.">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Operation</th>
<th>Notation</th>
<th>Expression</th>
<th>Read as</th>
<th>Result</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Subtraction</td>
<td>\(-\)</td>
<td>\(7-3\)</td>
<td>seven minus three</td>
<td>the difference of \(7\) and \(3\)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</section>
</div>
<div class="ns-school-emp">
<h3>Example</h3>
<div class="ns-school-defn">
<div data-type="example">
<section></section>
<section>
<div>
<p>Translate from math notation to words: (a) \(8-1\) (b) \(26-14\).</p>
</div>
<div>
<h4>Solution</h4>
<section>
<ol data-labeled-item="true" style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>We read this as <em>eight minus one</em>. The result is <em>the difference of eight and one</em>.</li>
<li>We read this as <em>twenty-six minus fourteen</em>. The result is <em>the difference of twenty-six and fourteen</em>.</li>
</ol>
</section>
</div>
</section>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div data-type="note">
<section>
<div class="ns-tutorial">
<div class="ns-school-defn2">
<h3>Extra:</h3>
<div data-type="note">
<section>
<p>Translate from math notation to words:</p>
<div>
<section>
<div>
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;" type="1">
<li>\(12-4\)</li>
<li>\(29-11\)</li>
</ol>
<h4>Solution</h4>
</div>
<div>
<section>
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;" type="1">
<li>twelve minus four; the difference of twelve and four</li>
<li>twenty-nine minus eleven; the difference of twenty-nine and eleven</li>
</ol>
</section>
</div>
</section>
</div>
</section>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
</div>
<div data-type="note">
<section>
<div class="ns-tutorial">
<div class="ns-school-defn2">
<h3>Extra:</h3>
<p>Translate from math notation to words:</p>
<div>
<section>
<div>
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;" type="1">
<li>\(11-2\)</li>
<li>\(29-12\)</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<h4>Solution</h4>
<section>
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;" type="1">
<li>eleven minus two; the difference of eleven and two</li>
<li>twenty-nine minus twelve; the difference of twenty-nine and twelve</li>
</ol>
</section>
</div>
</section>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
</div>
<section></section>
<h2>Optional Video: Model Subtraction of Two Digit Whole Numbers Using Base Ten Blocks</h2>
<p>This video below by <a href="http://www.mathispower4u.com/">Mathispower4u</a> explains subtraction of two digit whole numbers by using base ten blocks.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FQI0IgA-7fI?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;cc_lang_pref=en&amp;cc_load_policy=1" width="640"></iframe></p>

77e14597-4d58-4399-be3f-b1bb5c28bc54

Subtraction Notation

Mathematics studies measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are popular topics in mathematics.

Mathematics

Explore the world of numbers and learn about their history, properties, and applications, including place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.


Subtraction Notation

Track Your Learning Progress