Subtract a pair of 2-digit numbers by finding the difference | Maths

Starter quiz

What number is represented by these place value counters?
- 10
- 343 ✓
- 433
What number is represented by the base ten blocks?
- 442
- 10
- 244 ✓
- 424
Choose the correct symbol to go between the expressions. 7 + 5 ___ 3 + 4
- > ✓
- <
- =
Choose the correct symbol to go between the expressions. 20 − 3 ___ 12 + 10
- >
- < ✓
- =
Choose the correct symbol to go between these expressions. 34 − 10 ___ 14 + 10
- >
- <
- = ✓
Using your understanding of place value, order these numbers from smallest to greatest.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  10
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  30
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  31
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  103
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  130
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  301
- 7
  
  ⇔
  
  310

Match the numbers with words for the equation 8 − 6 = 2
- 8
  
  ⇔
  
  Minuend ✓
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Subtrahend ✓
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Difference ✓
Which of these bar models represents finding the difference?
Which of these contexts does not involve finding the difference?
- How many more sweets have I eaten?
- How many sweets do we have altogether? ✓
- How many more sweets do I have compared to you?
Which of these subtraction expressions can be more efficiently solved by finding the difference?
- 81 − 43
- 81 − 76 ✓
- 45 − 16
- 98 − 89 ✓
- 73 − 66 ✓
67 − 58 = ______
- '9' ✓
______ = 96 − 89
- '7' ✓

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When the minuend and subtrahend are close in value, finding the difference can be an efficient strategy for subtraction
Finding the difference means we count on from the subtrahend or count back from the minuend
A number line or a bar model can represent finding the difference

Pupils will often try to use a written method/algorithm which they know gives an accurate answer but don't understand why it works.

Encourage the pupils to be brave and remind them that this is about mental subtraction so, with practice, will be quicker than any written methods.

Minuend - The minuend is the number being subtracted from.
Subtrahend - A subtrahend is a number subtracted from another.
Difference - The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another.