Story problems use the same move. Find the teen number and split it.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
Read the whole story before you start. What is the whole? What goes away?
The story does not change the method
Cakes, cars or counters — 15 − 8 is 15 − 8. Recognising a familiar sum inside an unfamiliar story is most of word-problem work.
Check the answer makes sense
If eight of fifteen cakes are eaten, seven left sounds right. An answer of seventy would not, and you would spot it.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Tap and try it out.
How many
6 more would make 20.
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Watch Leo Solve a Story
There were 15 birds. 7 flew away.
- Step 1
Leo sees the whole is 15, so he splits it into 10 and 5.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Sticker Sheet
Problem 1 of 2
Ana has 12 stickers. She gives away 8. How many does she have left?
stickers
The Fruit Bowl
Problem 2 of 2
There are 16 apples. 9 are eaten. How many are left?
apples
Story Practice
Split the teen number, take from the ten, add the ones back.
1 of 2
14 − 8 = ?
2 of 2
17 − 9 = ?
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 2
11 − 8 = ?
Question 2 of 2
18 − 9 = ?
What You Learned
- Stories use the same take-from-ten move.
- Find the whole and split it.
- Take from the ten, then add the ones back.