Year 1: Finding the difference
Part of the Year 1 adding and subtracting within 20 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Finding the difference
The difference is how many more one group has than the other. Look at the picture. Nine apples and five stars. The four orange rings show the extra apples.
To find the difference, you can match the things up one to one and count the ones left over. Or you can take the smaller number from the bigger number: 9 − 5 = 4.
Key ideas
- The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
- Match one to one to find the extra things.
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- If the two numbers are the same, the difference is 0.
Key words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. The difference is how many more. Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- Count the first group: 9 apples. Touch each one once.9 apples
- Count the second group: 5 stars. Touch each one once.5 stars
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number. Subtraction finds how many more.9 − 5 = 4
- Write the answer. 4 more apples
Check. Match one to one: the 4 extra apples have no partner. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number. Do not add the two numbers together.
Key words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. The difference is how many more. Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- Count the first group: 15 cubes. Touch each one once.15 cubes
- Count the second group: 8 balls. Touch each one once.8 balls
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number. Subtraction finds how many more.15 − 8 = 7
- Write the answer. 7 more cubes
Check. Match one to one: the 7 extra cubes have no partner. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number. Do not add the two numbers together.
Key words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. When two groups are the same, there is no difference.
- Count the first group: 11 sweets. Touch each one once.11 sweets
- Count the second group: 11 sweets. Touch each one once.11 sweets
- Match them up one to one. Every thing has a partner, so nothing is left over.11 and 11 match exactly
- Write the answer. 0. The difference is 0.
Check. Take 11 from 11: 11 − 11 = 0. ✓
Watch out. Zero means there is no difference. The two groups are the same.
Watch out
Watch out: the difference is a take-away, not an add. Take the smaller number from the bigger number. 9 + 5 is not the difference.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Lay out two rows of buttons. Ask: “Which row has more? How many more?” Your child can match the buttons to check.
Exercise 5E Finding the difference
Non-calculatorKey words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. The difference is how many more. Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- Count the first group: 7 apples. Touch each one once.7 apples
- Count the second group: 3 stars. Touch each one once.3 stars
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number. Subtraction finds how many more.7 − 3 = 4
- Write the answer. 4 more apples
Check. Match one to one: the 4 extra apples have no partner. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number. Do not add the two numbers together.
Key words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. The difference is how many more. Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- Count the first group: 8 cubes. Touch each one once.8 cubes
- Count the second group: 5 balls. Touch each one once.5 balls
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number. Subtraction finds how many more.8 − 5 = 3
- Write the answer. 3 more cubes
Check. Match one to one: the 3 extra cubes have no partner. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number. Do not add the two numbers together.
Key words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. The difference is how many more. Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- Count the first group: 10 apples. Touch each one once.10 apples
- Count the second group: 4 stars. Touch each one once.4 stars
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number. Subtraction finds how many more.10 − 4 = 6
- Write the answer. 6 more apples
Check. Match one to one: the 6 extra apples have no partner. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number. Do not add the two numbers together.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 13. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 13
- Take away the smaller number, 6. Subtracting finds the difference.13 − 6 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Check: 6 + 7 = 13. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 18. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 18
- Take away the smaller number, 14. Subtracting finds the difference.18 − 14 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Check: 14 + 4 = 18. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 12. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 12
- Take away the smaller number, 7. Subtracting finds the difference.12 − 7 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Check: 7 + 5 = 12. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 16. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 16
- Take away the smaller number, 9. Subtracting finds the difference.16 − 9 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Check: 9 + 7 = 16. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 19. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 19
- Take away the smaller number, 11. Subtracting finds the difference.19 − 11 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Check: 11 + 8 = 19. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Key words. The difference is how many more one number is than the other.
Method. The difference is how many more. Take the smaller number from the bigger number.
- Count the first group: 14 marbles. Touch each one once.14 marbles
- Count the second group: 9 marbles. Touch each one once.9 marbles
- Take the smaller number from the bigger number. Subtraction finds how many more.14 − 9 = 5
- Write the answer. 5 more marbles
Check. Match one to one: the 5 extra marbles have no partner. ✓
Watch out. Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number. Do not add the two numbers together.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 15. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 15
- Take away the smaller number, 8. Subtracting finds the difference.15 − 8 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Check: 8 + 7 = 15. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Key words. The difference is how far apart two numbers are.
Method. The difference is found by taking the smaller number away from the bigger number.
- Find the bigger number, 17. The bigger number goes first in the take-away.Bigger: 17
- Take away the smaller number, 11. Subtracting finds the difference.17 − 11 = 6
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Check: 11 + 6 = 17. ✓
Watch out. Take the smaller number away from the bigger one, not the other way round.
Method. The difference between two equal numbers is 0.
- Look at the two numbers. Both numbers are 10.10 and 10
- Take one from the other. When two numbers are the same, nothing is left over.10 − 10 = 0
- Write the answer. No. The difference is 0, not 10.
Check. Match 10 counters with 10 counters. None are left over. ✓
Watch out. Zero means no difference. The two numbers are the same.