Rules for Subtraction

In the Common Core State Standards, by the end of Grade 2 students are to fluently add
and subtract within 20 using mental strategies and know from memory all sums of two one-
digit numbers (2.OA.2). By Grade 3 or above, it is assumed that students are already
familiar with the concept of subtraction, and addition rules and properties. If a more
thorough review or re-teaching is needed, please see the Instructional Resources offered in
our Beyond the Basic Facts manual for Grades K-2.

Review the following Subtraction Rules and Properties:

1. The Identity Property of Subtraction (also known as the Zero Rule of Subtraction):
Any number minus zero equals itself. (2 – 0 = 2)

2. The One Less Rule of Subtraction: any number minus one decreases that number by
one. (5 − 1 = 4)

3. The Number Minus Itself Rule of Subtraction: any number minus itself is equal to
zero. (2 – 2 = 0)

4. The Number Minus the Number Just Before Rule of Subtraction: any number minus
the number just before it equals one. (3 − 2 = 1)

5. The Inverse Operation: reverses the effect of another operation. Subtraction

reverses addition. (Since 3 + 2 = 5, then 5 – 2 = 3 and 5 – 3 = 2)

Additional resources may be found in the Instructional Resources section of

Beyond the Basic Facts: K-2.

Copyright © Swun Math 43 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
Days 3 - 5:
Teacher explains to students how the missing addend is going to help find the difference in
a subtraction problem. (Fact Families)

“If I know that 3 + 2 = 5, then I know that 5 – 2 = 3 and 5 – 3 = 2. Let me show you
how.”

5 5 12
- 2 - 3 - 8

When solving for the difference, use the think-aloud strategy to stress how we are able to
find the difference to subtraction problems by asking ourselves:

“5 – 2, 5 – 2, to find out what the difference is I ask myself, 2 plus what is 5?

2 plus 3 is 5, so I know through my fact family that 5 – 2 is 3. The difference is 3.”

“5 – 3, 5 – 3, to find out what the difference is I ask myself, 3 plus what is 5?

3 plus 2 is 5, so I know through my fact family that 5 – 3 is 2. The difference is 2.”

“12 – 8, 12 – 8, to find out what the difference is I ask myself, 8 plus what is 12.
8 plus 4 is 12, so I know through my fact family that 12 – 8 is 4. The difference is 4.”

Teacher continues modeling with additional facts, continually emphasizing the inverse
relationship between addition and subtraction.

Copyright © Swun Math 45 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–2) Fluency Review

Name _________________________ Date ______

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (2s)

545 567 869

- 223 - 325 - 247

760 851 980

- 242 - 629 - 258

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 2 + 1 = 3 Then 3 – 1 = 2 and 3 – 2 = 1

Since 2 + 2 = 4 Then
Since 2 + 4 = 6 Then
Since 2 + 6 = 8 Then
Since 2 + 8 = 10 Then
Since 2 + 3 = 5 Then
Since 2 + 5 = 7 Then
Since 2 + 7 = 9 Then
Since 2 + 9 = 11 Then

Copyright © Swun Math 55 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–3) Fluency Review

Name _________________________ Date ______

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (3s)

767 982 930

- 534 - 653 - 593

892 811 631

- 639 - 378 - 233

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 3 + 1 = 4 Then 4 – 1 = 3 and 4 – 3 = 1

Since 3 + 2 = 5 Then
Since 3 + 4 = 7 Then
Since 3 + 6 = 9 Then
Since 3 + 8 = 11 Then
Since 3 + 3 = 6 Then
Since 3 + 5 = 8 Then
Since 3 + 7 = 10 Then
Since 3 + 9 = 12 Then

Copyright © Swun Math 59 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–4) Fluency Review

Name _________________________ Date ______

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (4s)

989 521 640

- 545 - 347 - 394

933 731 743

- 449 - 487 - 594

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 4 + 1 = 5 Then 5 – 1 = 4 and 5 – 4 = 1

Since 4 + 2 = 6 Then
Since 4 + 4 = 8 Then
Since 4 + 6 = 10 Then
Since 4 + 8 = 12 Then
Since 4 + 3 = 7 Then
Since 4 + 5 = 9 Then
Since 4 + 7 = 11 Then
Since 4 + 9 = 13 Then

Copyright © Swun Math 63 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–5) Fluency Review

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (5s)

432 634 851

- 275 - 359 - 596

724 530 623

- 565 - 275 - 258

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 5 + 1 = 6 Then 6 – 1 = 5 and 6 – 5 = 1

Since 5 + 2 = 7 Then
Since 5 + 4 = 9 Then
Since 5 + 6 = 11 Then
Since 5 + 8 = 13 Then
Since 5 + 3 = 8 Then
Since 5 + 5 = 10 Then
Since 5 + 7 = 12 Then
Since 5 + 9 = 14 Then

Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above 66 Copyright © Swun Math
 Subtraction (–6) Fluency Review

Name _________________________ Date ______

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (6s)

743 676 355

- 267 - 543 - 169

840 721 462

- 476 - 566 - 296

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 6 + 1 = 7 Then 7 – 1 = 6 and 7 – 6 = 1

Since 6 + 2 = 8 Then
Since 6 + 4 = 10 Then
Since 6 + 6 = 12 Then
Since 6 + 8 = 14 Then
Since 6 + 3 = 9 Then
Since 6 + 5 = 11 Then
Since 6 + 7 = 13 Then
Since 6 + 9 = 15 Then

Copyright © Swun Math 69 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–7) Fluency Review

Name _________________________ Date ______

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (7s)

565 756 864

- 279 - 579 - 587

855 763 366

- 477 - 587 - 287

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 7 + 1 = 8 Then 8 – 1 = 7 and 8 – 7 = 1

Since 7 + 2 = 9 Then
Since 7 + 4 = 11 Then
Since 7 + 6 = 13 Then
Since 7 + 8 = 15 Then
Since 7 + 3 = 10 Then
Since 7 + 5 = 12 Then
Since 7 + 7 = 14 Then
Since 7 + 9 = 16 Then

Copyright © Swun Math 71 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–8) Fluency Review

Name _________________________ Date ______

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (8s)

955 756 776

- 869 - 589 - 489

912 655 286

- 688 - 388 - 198

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 8 + 1 = 9 Then 9 – 1 = 8 and 9 – 8 = 1

Since 8 + 2 = 10 Then
Since 8 + 4 = 12 Then
Since 8 + 6 = 14 Then
Since 8 + 8 = 16 Then
Since 8 + 3 = 11 Then
Since 8 + 5 = 13 Then
Since 8 + 7 = 15 Then
Since 8 + 9 = 17 Then

Copyright © Swun Math 73 Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above
 Subtraction (–9) Fluency Review

Subtraction Fact Fluency Review – (9s)

253 377 786

- 159 - 269 - 489

758 355 734

- 249 - 189 - 159

Give the subtraction form of the following facts:

Example: Since 9 + 1 = 10 Then 10 – 1 = 9 and 10 – 9 = 1

Since 9 + 2 = 11 Then
Since 9 + 4 = 13 Then
Since 9 + 6 = 15 Then
Since 9 + 8 = 17 Then
Since 9 + 3 = 12 Then
Since 9 + 5 = 14 Then
Since 9 + 7 = 16 Then
Since 9 + 9 = 18 Then

Beyond the Basic Facts: Grades 3 and Above 74 Copyright © Swun Math