Find the Difference using Subtraction Property

How to find the difference using subtraction property?

1. Subtraction is only possible when the number to be subtracted (subtrahend) is smaller than the number from which the other number is subtracted, i.e., the minuend must be greater than the subtrahend.

For example:

       55         minuend                 348             55 > 25

   -  25         subtrahend         -   127             348 > 127

      30                                      221

To find the difference using subtraction property when; both minuend and subtrahend being equal, subtraction is also done. In such case, the subtraction result is zero.

2. The subtraction operation is inverse of the addition operation.

‘4 + 5 = 9 so, 9 – 4 = 5’

We know, 9 – 4 = 5, it means we get 5 when 4 is taken away from 9. This fact also reveals that we get 9 when 4 is added to 5.

(i) 9 – 4 = 5 only when 4 + 5 = 9 or 5 + 4 = 9

(ii) 4 + 5 = 9 only when 9 – 5 = 4 or 9 – 4 = 5

Thus, for every addition fact, there are two subtraction facts as:

(i) 2 + 5 = 7, then 7 – 5 = 2, and 7 – 2 = 5

(ii) 8 + 7 = 15, then 15 – 7 = 8, and 15 – 8 = 7

(iii) 27 + 15 = 42, then 42 – 27 = 15, and 42 – 15 = 27

(iv) 53 + 22 = 75, then 75 – 22 = 53, and 75 – 53 = 22

(v) 323 + 111 = 434, then 434 – 323 = 111, and 434 – 111 = 323

For every subtraction fact, there are two addition facts as:

(i) 8 – 2 = 6, then 6 + 2 = 8, and 2 + 6 = 8

(ii) 17 – 6 = 11, then 6 + 11 = 17, and 11 + 6 = 17

(iii) 70 – 40 = 30, then 40 + 30 = 70, and 30 + 40 = 70

(iv) 38 – 24 = 14, then 24 + 14 = 38, and 14 + 24 = 38

(v) 255 – 131 = 124, then 131 + 124 = 255, and 124 + 131 = 255

3. If zero is subtracted from any number, the number remains the same as:

(i) 9 – 0 = 9

(ii) 13 – 0 = 13

(iii) 39 – 0 = 39

(iv) 117 – 0 = 117

This property is similar to that of addition operation. If zero is added to any number, there is no change in the number.

(i) 9 + 0 = 9

(ii) 13 + 0 = 13

(iii) 39 + 0 = 39

(iv) 117 + 0 = 117

4. To find the difference using subtraction property when a number is subtracted from itself, the difference is zero (0).

(i) 7 – 7 = 0

(ii) 19 – 19 = 0

(iii) 123 – 123 = 0

(iv) 239 – 239 = 0

2nd Grade Math Practice

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