Subtracting 2-digit numbers
Take away the ones, then the tens. Borrow when you need to.
Learn with Kutty
Go one screen at a time. Press Next when you are ready. Tap 🔊 Read to me to listen.
Take away the ones first. If there are not enough, break a ten.
Look: One ten of 42 is broken into 10 ones. Now there are 12 ones.
✏️ Your turn!
Type your answer and press Check. Kutty will tell you if it is right.
158 − 23 = ?
271 − 38 = ?
360 − 24 = ?
! Careful!
✗Doing 7 − 2 because 2 is smaller.
✓Always top minus bottom. Break a ten if you need to.
✗Breaking a ten but keeping 4 tens.
✓Cross out the 4 and write 3.
See the whole lesson on one page
Take away the ones first. If there are not enough, break a ten.
Start with the ones. If the top number is too small, break 1 ten into 10 ones. The number stays the same: 42 is also 3 tens and 12 ones.
Think of it like thisYou need to pay ₹7 but have one ₹10 note and ₹2 in coins. Change the ₹10 note into ten ₹1 coins. Now you have 12 coins.
- Borrow
- Break 1 ten into 10 ones.
Solved together
There were 42 mangoes. Paati gave away 17. How many are left?
Ones: 2 − 7? Not enough. Break a ten: 42 becomes 3 tens and 12 ones.
Take the ones: 12 − 7 = 5.
12 − 7 = 5Take the tens: 3 − 1 = 2.
Check: add back. 25 + 17 = 42. ✓
Answer25 mangoes are left.
Now practise it
Kanakku makes new questions on subtracting 2-digit numbers every time. It shows the working and gives a hint when you are stuck.