Subtraction using pictures and number line

Class 1 Class 2 CBSE UP Board

📘 What's inside:

1 Subtraction using Objects
2 Subtraction using Pictures
3 Subtraction using Tally Marks
4 Subtraction using a Ten-Frame
5 Subtraction using a Number Line
6 Exam Questions

Concept 1 — Subtraction using Objects

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The most natural way to subtract is to use real objects. We start with the full group, remove (take away) the given number of objects, and count what is left.

▶ Steps to Subtract using Objects

Collect the full group of objects and count them (the minuend).
Take away (remove or push aside) the given number of objects (the subtrahend).
Count the objects that remain. That is your difference.

▶ Solved Example 1

Meena has 8 marbles. She gives 3 to her brother. How many does she have left? Show using objects.

⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪

− 3 = 5

▲ 3 given away (crossed out) ▲ 5 remaining

1Start with 8 marbles.
2Cross out (remove) 3 marbles.
3Count what is left: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Difference = 5.

8 − 3 = 5. Meena has 5 marbles left.

▶ Solved Example 2

Show 9 − 4 using objects and write the subtraction sentence.

🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴

− 4 = 5

19 circles total. Cross out 4.
2Count remaining: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

9 − 4 = 5

✍ Practice — Concept 1

Q1 Show 7 − 3 using objects. Write the subtraction sentence and the difference. ▼

Answer

⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛

− 3 = 4

Cross out 3, count remaining: 4. 7 − 3 = 4

Q2 A plate has 10 biscuits. 6 are eaten. Use objects to find how many are left. ▼

Answer

⚪⚪ ⚪⚪ ⚪⚪ ⚪⚪ ⚪⚪

− 6 = 4

10 − 6 = 4. There are 4 biscuits left.

Q3 Objects show: ★★★★★★ — cross out 2. Write the subtraction sentence. ▼

Answer Start with 6 stars. Cross out 2. Count remaining: 1, 2, 3, 4.
6 − 2 = 4

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Concept 2 — Subtraction using Pictures

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In textbooks, subtraction is shown using pictures. We count the total, identify the crossed-out (removed) pictures, and count what remains. The method is exactly the same as using real objects.

▶ How to Subtract using Pictures

Count all the pictures — that is the minuend.
Count the pictures that are crossed out — that is the subtrahend.
Count the pictures not crossed out — that is the difference.
Write the complete subtraction sentence.

▶ Solved Example 3

A picture shows 8 apples. 3 are crossed out. Write the subtraction sentence.

🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

− 3 = 5

1Total apples: 8 (minuend).
2Crossed out: 3 (subtrahend).
3Remaining: 5 (difference).

8 − 3 = 5

▶ Solved Example 4

A picture shows 10 butterflies. 4 fly away (crossed out). How many are left? Write the subtraction sentence.

🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋

− 4 = 6

1Total: 10. Flew away (crossed out): 4.
2Remaining: 10 − 4 = 6.

10 − 4 = 6. There are 6 butterflies left.

✍ Practice — Concept 2

Q4 Count and subtract: A picture shows 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 — 4 are crossed out. How many are left? ▼

Answer

🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻

− 4 = 3

7 flowers − 4 crossed out = 3 flowers left. 7 − 4 = 3.

Q5 A picture shows 9 ducks. 5 swim away (crossed out). Write the subtraction sentence. How many ducks remain? ▼

Answer

🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆 🦆

− 5 = 4

Subtraction sentence: 9 − 5 = 4. There are 4 ducks remaining.

Q6 A picture shows 6 stars and 0 are crossed out. What is the difference? What property does this show? ▼

Answer 6 stars − 0 crossed out = 6.
Subtraction sentence: 6 − 0 = 6.
This shows the property: subtracting zero leaves the number unchanged.

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Concept 3 — Subtraction using Tally Marks

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We can subtract using tally marks by drawing tallies for the minuend and then crossing out the number of tallies equal to the subtrahend. The remaining marks give the difference.

▶ How to Subtract using Tally Marks

Draw tally marks for the minuend (the full number).
Cross out tallies equal to the subtrahend (number being taken away).
Count the remaining marks — that is your difference.

▶ Solved Example 5

Use tally marks to find 8 − 3.

= 8 total

− 3 crossed out = 5

1Draw 8 tally marks for the minuend.
2Cross out 3 marks (the subtrahend).
3Count the marks still standing: 5.

8 − 3 = 5

✍ Practice — Concept 3

Q7 Draw 7 tally marks. Cross out 4. Count the rest. Write the subtraction sentence. ▼

Answer

= 7

− 4 = 3

7 − 4 = 3

Q8 Tally marks show: ||||| || (7 marks). Cross out 5 (one full group). What remains? ▼

Answer Total tallies = 7. Cross out the group of 5 (the bundle).
Remaining = 2 single marks.
7 − 5 = 2

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Concept 4 — Subtraction using a Ten-Frame

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A ten-frame is a grid of 10 boxes. For subtraction, we fill dots for the minuend and then remove (fade out) the dots equal to the subtrahend. The remaining filled dots are the difference.

▶ How to Use a Ten-Frame for Subtraction

Fill cyan dots for the minuend from the top-left.
Remove (cross out or fade) the number of dots equal to the subtrahend — from right to left.
Count the remaining filled dots = difference.

▶ Solved Example 6

Use a ten-frame to find 9 − 4.

⬤

Cyan = 5 remaining | Faded red = 4 removed | Empty = 1 (was never filled)

1Fill 9 cyan dots (boxes 1–9). Box 10 stays empty.
2Remove (fade) 4 dots from the right: boxes 6, 7, 8, 9.
3Count remaining filled cyan dots: 5.

9 − 4 = 5

▶ Solved Example 7

Use a ten-frame to find 10 − 6. What do you notice?

⬤

Frame was full (10) — 6 removed → 4 remain.

1Fill all 10 dots (full frame = 10).
2Remove 6 dots from the right.
3Count remaining: 4.

10 − 6 = 4. Notice: 4 + 6 = 10 — subtraction and addition are inverse operations!

✍ Practice — Concept 4

Q9 A ten-frame has 8 cyan dots. 3 are removed. Write the subtraction sentence and find the difference. ▼

Answer

⬤

5 cyan remaining. Subtraction sentence: 8 − 3 = 5

Q10 A full ten-frame (10 dots) has 7 dots removed. How many remain? Write the subtraction sentence. ▼

Answer

⬤

3 dots remain. 10 − 7 = 3

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Concept 5 — Subtraction using a Number Line

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On a number line, subtraction means we jump backwards (to the left). We start at the minuend and make jumps to the left equal to the subtrahend. The number we land on is the difference.

▶ Steps to Subtract on a Number Line

Mark the minuend on the number line with a dot.
Jump backwards (to the left) by the subtrahend — one step at a time.
Draw an arc over each jump.
The number where you land is the difference.

▶ Solved Example 8

Find 7 − 3 using a number line.

1Start at 7. Mark it with a dot.
2Jump 3 steps to the left: 7 → 6 → 5 → 4.
3We land on 4. That is the difference.

7 − 3 = 4

▶ Solved Example 9

Ramu had 10 toffees. He gave away 6. Use a number line to find how many he has left.

1Mark 10 (Ramu's toffees).
2Jump 6 steps left: 10 → 9 → 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4.
3Land on 4.

10 − 6 = 4. Ramu has 4 toffees left.

▶ Solved Example 10

Find 9 − 5 using a number line.

1Start at 9.
2Jump 5 steps left: 9 → 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4.

9 − 5 = 4

✍ Practice — Concept 5

Q11 Use a number line to find 8 − 4. ▼

Answer

Start at 8. Jump 4 left: 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4.
8 − 4 = 4

Q12 Sita had 9 flowers. She used 3 for pooja. Use a number line to find how many she has left. ▼

Answer

Start at 9. Jump 3 left: 9 → 8 → 7 → 6.
9 − 3 = 6. Sita has 6 flowers left.

Q13 A number line shows a jump starting at 10 and landing on 3. What was subtracted? Write the subtraction sentence. ▼

Answer

Start = 10. Land = 3. Number of steps jumped left = 10 − 3 = 7.
10 − 7 = 3

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★ Key Points to Remember

Objects: Start with the full group. Remove (cross out) the subtrahend. Count what remains.
Pictures: Count all pictures (minuend), count crossed-out ones (subtrahend), count remaining ones (difference).
Tally marks: Draw tallies for the minuend. Cross out the subtrahend. Count remaining marks.
Ten-frame: Fill cyan dots for the minuend. Fade/remove dots equal to the subtrahend. Count remaining cyan dots.
Number line: Start at the minuend. Jump left (backwards) by the subtrahend. Land on the difference.
All methods give the same answer — subtraction and addition are inverse operations (they undo each other).

Exam Style — Class 1 & 2

5 Questions on Subtraction using Objects, Pictures & Number Line

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Q1 Count the pictures and write the subtraction sentence: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 — 5 are crossed out. ▼

Answer

🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

− 5 = 3

Total = 8. Crossed out = 5. Remaining = 3.
8 − 5 = 3

Q2 Use a number line to find: (a) 9 − 2 (b) 10 − 5 ▼

Answer

(a) Start at 9, jump 2 left: 8, 7. 9 − 2 = 7

(b) Start at 10, jump 5 left: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5. 10 − 5 = 5

Q3 A ten-frame has 7 dots. 4 are removed. How many remain? Write the subtraction sentence. ▼

Answer

⬤

3 dots remain. Subtraction sentence: 7 − 4 = 3.

Q4 Priya had 8 pencils. She lost 3. Show this subtraction on a number line and write the sentence. ▼

Answer

Start at 8. Jump 3 left: 7, 6, 5.
8 − 3 = 5. Priya has 5 pencils left.

Q5 Which method would you choose to show 10 − 4? Use it, find the answer, and explain your choice. ▼

Answer Best method: number line — it clearly shows the backwards jump.

Start at 10, jump 4 left: 9, 8, 7, 6.
10 − 4 = 6.
The number line shows each step of subtraction clearly and is easy to verify.

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📄 Free Worksheet

Practise subtracting using pictures, ten-frames and number lines with our free printable worksheet for Class 1 and 2. No login required.

► Open Free Worksheet

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