Writing a Subtraction Statement Up to 5

A subtraction statement is a short number sentence that shows how many objects are left after some are taken away. It uses numbers, a minus sign, and an equal sign instead of words. For numbers up to 5, a subtraction statement always has this order: the total number of objects you started with, then the minus sign, then the number taken away, then the equal sign, then the number left.

For example, if you start with 5 apples and take away 2 of them, the subtraction statement is \( 5 - 2 = 3 \). Before writing statements like this, it helps to practice taking away with objects up to 5, so the idea of "removing some and counting what's left" already feels familiar.

Every subtraction statement up to 5 has three number parts and two symbols.

• The first number is how many objects you started with, called the whole group.
• The minus sign, written as \( - \), means "take away."
• The second number is how many objects were taken away.
• The equal sign, written as \( = \), means "is the same as."
• The last number is how many objects are left after taking some away.

Put together, it reads as: whole group, minus sign, number taken away, equal sign, number left.

When you see a picture of objects with some crossed out, follow these steps to write the subtraction statement:

• Step 1: Count all of the objects in the picture, including the ones that are crossed out. Write that number first.
• Step 2: Write the minus sign after that number.
• Step 3: Count how many objects are crossed out or taken away. Write that number next.
• Step 4: Write the equal sign.
• Step 5: Count the objects that are not crossed out. Write that number last.

Subtraction statements can also come from a simple story instead of a picture. Listen for the total number of things, the number that goes away, and the word "left" or "are there now" to find the answer.

Example: "There are 4 birds on a branch. 1 bird flies away. How many birds are left?" Start with the total, 4, write the minus sign, write the number that left, 1, write the equal sign, then count what remains.

\( 4 - 1 = 3 \)

Here are a few more subtraction statements written the same way:

• \( 3 - 1 = 2 \)
• \( 4 - 2 = 2 \)
• \( 5 - 3 = 2 \)

After writing a subtraction statement, check it by counting the objects that are left over in the picture or story. That count should match the last number in your statement. If it does not match, recount the total and the number taken away before trying again.

Once writing these statements from pictures and stories feels comfortable, you can practice matching the numbers themselves in subtracting with digits up to 5, or try filling in a missing part of a statement in complete the subtraction statement up to 5.

• Writing the numbers in the wrong order, such as \( 2 - 5 \) instead of \( 5 - 2 \).
• Forgetting to count the crossed-out objects when finding the first number.
• Mixing up the minus sign with the plus sign.
• Forgetting the equal sign before writing the final number.

Related lessons

• Kindergarten