Rules for Subtraction Using

Partitioning

Read the question and put the biggest number at the front and the smallest

number next

Never Swap them around!95 - 46

You now partition (or separate) the second number into its place value

houses

95 – 46 (40, 6)

Step 1Take away the first part of the partition number from the first number we haven’t touched

95 – 46 (40, 6)95 – 40 = 55

Step 2Take the second part of the partitioned number and take it away from the answer of STEP 1 – you have your answer!

95 – 46 (40, 6)95 – 40 = 5555 – 6 = 49

Stage 5At stage 5 children will be using this strategy with 2 digit numbers as follows:

75 – 56 (50, 6)75 – 50 = 2525 – 6 = 19

Stage 6At stage 6 children will be using this strategy with 2 and 3 digit numbers as follows:

752 – 456 (400, 50, 6)752 – 400 = 352352 – 50 = 302302 – 6 = 296