Grade 1, Operations

Subtract within 10

Take away from numbers up to 10, then find the missing number.

Three levels

One skill, rising difficulty

Each sheet carries one level. The three are the same skill at rising difficulty, each named for what it practises.

Level 1: Take away from 5 or less
Subtract.
Level 2: Take away from 10 or less
Subtract.
Level 3: Missing number
Write the missing number.

Worked example

How the sheet explains it

The helper printed at the top of each sheet: one solved example and the steps a student follows, before the first question. Every number sentence in it is proven by the same checker as the answer key.

Level 1: Take away from 5 or less

5 − 2 = 3

  1. Start at 5 and count back 2: 4, 3.
  2. So 5 − 2 = 3.

Level 2: Take away from 10 or less

9 − 6 = 3

  1. Add up instead. Count up from 6 to 9: 7, 8, 9.
  2. That is 3 jumps, so 6 + 3 = 9.
  3. So 9 − 6 = 3.

Level 3: Missing number

8 − 3 = 5

  1. Start at 8 and count back to 5: 7, 6, 5.
  2. You took away 3, so 8 − 3 = 5.
  3. If the first number is missing, add the other two.

Goes with

Reference sheets

One-page helpers a student keeps beside this sheet:

  • Addition and subtraction strategies

Every reference, facts and support sheet is listed in the worksheet catalogue.

In the BC curriculum

Content standards

The British Columbia content standard this skill is written for, by the codes used across this site:

  • bc.math.1.c.3

The wording of each standard is on the Province's mathematics curriculum page.

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Print the sheet and its answer key

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Back to all worksheets by grade, or read the Grade 1 guide to what this grade learns in British Columbia.