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Let’s Learn!

Subtract using a number line.

Goal:

Goal:

Think About It!

Goal: Can you find the difference on a number line?

Sandra swims 50 yards forward. Then, she swims 20 yards backward. How many yards away is the shark?

shark with a left arrow labeled 50 yards. fish with a right arrow labeled 20 yards

Let’s use a number line to subtract 50 - 20.

Here is our number line. It has arrows on each side, and each line is labeled with a number. We can subtract on a number line by jumping to the left.

Number line from 30 to 60. The numbers get larger when you count to the right. They get smaller when you count to the left.

Let’s start subtracting by putting a dot above the whole.

Number line from 30 to 60. 50 - 20 = ___

Now look at the digits in the place values of the part.

50 - 20 = ___. Arrow under the 20 labeled 2 tens and 0 ones.

20 is made up of 2 tens and 0 ones. That means we can jump to the left 2 tens and 0 ones.

Number line from 30 to 60. 50 - 20 = ___. Arrow under the 20 labeled 2 tens and 0 ones.

The number the last jump lands on is the difference!

Number line from 30 to 60. A dot on 50 with arrows jumping back to 30.
Number line from 30 to 60. A dot on 50 with arrows jumping back to 30.

Sandra is 30 yards away from the shark because 50 - 20 = 30.

Mismatch Game

What is 64 inches - 23 inches?

number line from 40 to 70 with a dot on 64 and arrows jumping back to 41

Yes! The difference is 41. We start at 64 because it is the whole, and we jump to the left 23 because it is the part.

The difference is 41. We start at 64 because it is the whole, and we jump to the left 23 because it is the part.

The difference is 41. We start at 64 because it is the whole, and we jump to the left 23 because it is the part.

You got # out of # correct.
Click the Retry button for another attempt.

You got a perfect score. Great job!