Year 2 subtraction takes away ones and tens from two-digit numbers, finds the difference between numbers and solves take-away stories up to 100.
What your child will learn
- Subtract a one-digit number from a two-digit number
- Subtract tens and two-digit numbers
- Use addition to check a subtraction answer
- Solve subtraction stories and missing number problems
Take away the tens, then the ones
For 76 − 23, first take away 2 tens (76 − 20 = 56), then 3 ones (56 − 3 = 53). Breaking a subtraction into steps keeps each step small and manageable.
When there aren’t enough ones
In 52 − 27 there are only 2 ones to take 7 from. Children can count back through the ten, or exchange one ten for ten ones. Valley Sprint practises these questions.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. True or false? 38 − 3 = 35
Show answer
Answer: True. 38 − 3 = 35. Check it by adding back: 35 + 3 = 38.
2. What is 36 − 5?
- 30
- 41
- 31
- 35
Show answer
Answer: 31. 36 − 5 = 31. Check it by adding back: 31 + 5 = 36.
3. What is 65 − 2?
- 68
- 63
- 67
- 65
Show answer
Answer: 63. 65 − 2 = 63. Check it by adding back: 63 + 2 = 65.
Tips for grown-ups
- Work out change from a pretend shop using coins worth 10 and 1.
- Count back in tens on a 100 square.
- Check every subtraction with addition — it is a habit worth building.