Reception Maths: Taking away and counting what is left
Part of the Reception Maths taking away within 10 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Taking away and counting what is left
Mia has 5 apples. She eats 2 of them. How many apples are left?
Start with all the apples. Take away the ones that go, and cross them out. Then count only the apples that are left.
Key ideas
- Take away means some are removed.
- Count only the things that are left.
- Check: the left-over and the taken-away make the start.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 5. Count all the things first.5 in all
- Take away 2. Cross out the ones that are taken away.5 − 2
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.3 left
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Add them back: 3 + 2 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 7. Count all the things first.7 in all
- Take away 3. Cross out the ones that are taken away.7 − 3
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 3 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 6. Count all the things first.6 in all
- Take away 1. Cross out the ones that are taken away.6 − 1
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Watch out
Watch out: count the ones that are left, not the ones that were taken away.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use five buttons. Move two off the table. Ask: “How many are left?” Then put the two back and count all five again.
Exercise 6A Taking away and counting
Non-calculatorKey words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 5. Count all the things first.5 in all
- Take away 2. Cross out the ones that are taken away.5 − 2
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.3 left
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Add them back: 3 + 2 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 7. Count all the things first.7 in all
- Take away 3. Cross out the ones that are taken away.7 − 3
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 3 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 6. Count all the things first.6 in all
- Take away 1. Cross out the ones that are taken away.6 − 1
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 8. Count all the things first.8 in all
- Take away 4. Cross out the ones that are taken away.8 − 4
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 4 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 9. Count all the things first.9 in all
- Take away 5. Cross out the ones that are taken away.9 − 5
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 5 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 10. Count all the things first.10 in all
- Take away 3. Cross out the ones that are taken away.10 − 3
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.7 left
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Add them back: 7 + 3 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 4. Count all the things first.4 in all
- Take away 1. Cross out the ones that are taken away.4 − 1
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.3 left
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Add them back: 3 + 1 = 4. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 6. Count all the things first.6 in all
- Take away 2. Cross out the ones that are taken away.6 − 2
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 2 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 8. Count all the things first.8 in all
- Take away 3. Cross out the ones that are taken away.8 − 3
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 3 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 6. Count all the things first.6 in all
- Take away 2. Cross out the ones that are taken away.6 − 2
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 2 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 9. Count all the things first.9 in all
- Take away 4. Cross out the ones that are taken away.9 − 4
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 4 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Method. Take away all five and count what is left.
- Start with 5. Count all the things.5
- Take away 5. All the things are taken away.5 − 5
- Count what is left. Nothing is left.0
- Write the answer. No. 5 take away 5 leaves 0.
Check. Add them back: 0 + 5 = 5. ✓
Watch out. If everything is taken away, zero is left.