How it works
A whole is made of two parts.
If you know the whole and one part, take the part away to find the other.
Check by adding the two parts.
Worked examples
Take away a part
- 9 − 7 = ?
- The whole is 9. One part is 7.
- Take the part away from the whole.
- So the answer is 2.
The same, written the other way
- ? = 9 − 7
- The question is written backwards.
- It means the same: find the missing part.
- So the answer is 2.
The part is in the middle
- 8 = 11 − ?
- The whole is 11. One part is missing.
- Take away what you know.
- So the answer is 3.
A taste of the worksheet
These are the first problems of set A. The printable sheet has many more, with an answer key.
- 5 + __ = 8
- 7 − 4 = __
- __ + 3 = 9
- __ + 2 = 8
- 9 − 4 = __
Words to know
- whole
- All of something.
- part
- A piece of the whole.