Interpret and represent subtraction stories | Maths | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Alex writes an equation to match this story. 7 - 2 = 5 What does the 5 represent?

The amount left at the end of the story. ✓

The amount at the start of the story.

The amount subtracted
Which story could match the picture?

First, there were 5 pencils. Then, I took 2 pencils. Now, there are 3 pencils. ✓

First, there were 3 pencils. Then, I put in 2 pencils. Now, there are 5 pencils.

First, there were 5 pencils. Then, I took 3 pencils. Now, there are 2 pencils.
Which set of counters would represent this story? First, there were 8 pounds in my pocket. Then, I spent 3 pounds. Now, there are 5 pounds in my pocket.
Which equation matches the picture?

5 + 1 = 6

6 - 5 = 1

6 - 1 = 5 ✓
Which equation matches the story? First, there were 8 books on a shelf. Then, 2 books were taken off. Now, there are 6 books on the shelf.

8 - 6 = 2

8 = 2 + 6

8 - 2 = 6 ✓
Write an equation to match the story. First, there were 10 pebbles in my bucket. Then, I dropped 2 pebbles. Now, there are 8 pebbles in my bucket.

'10-2=8' ✓

Which picture could represent this story? First, there were 7 cats on the wall. Then, 3 cats jumped off the wall. Now, there are 4 cats on the wall.
Which equation would represent this story?

8 - 3 = 5 ✓

8 - 5 = 3

5 - 3 = 2
What is the subtrahend in this problem?

5

4 ✓

0
Which 'First, then, now' story represents this bar model?

First, there were 9 cars. Then, 1 car left. Now, there are 8 cars.

First, there were 5 cars, Then, 1 car left. Now, there are 4 cars. ✓

First, there were 4 cars. Then, 1 car left. Now, there are 5 cars.
Match the story to the equation it represents.

2 - 2 = 0

⇔

First, there were 2 dogs. Then, 2 dogs left. Now, there are 0 dogs. ✓

9 - 1 = 8

⇔

First, there were 9 cats. Then, 1 cat left. Now, there are 8 cats. ✓

6 - 3 = 3

⇔

First, there were 6 pigs. Then, 3 pigs left. Now, there are 3 pigs. ✓
Which of these equations has been shown on this number line?

8 - 6 = 2 ✓

8 - 2 = 6

6 - 2 = 8

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In a ‘First, then, now’ subtraction story, the number at the start of the story is decreased by subtracting a part.
When using subtraction to decrease an amount, the number that is decreased must always be represented first.
This can be represented with practical equipment and as a bar model or a number line.
We can write an equation to match these representations.

The change in amount during the 'then' part of the story may be hard to identify.

Draw attention to explicitly to the change, talking about it as a decrease.