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Educational Maths Games

Khan Academy Kids maths: subtraction stories

Use age-appropriate, adult-approved play examples to act out taking away with pictures and toys.

Quick answer

Subtraction stories are simple maths problems that use real-life situations to show how things are taken away or reduced. You can act them out with toys, draw them, or use your fingers to help you solve them.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to solve simple subtraction stories by using pictures, toys, or counting backwards to show how things are taken away. Success signs:
  • You can act out a subtraction story with toys or pictures
  • You can solve a story problem like "I had 5 apples and ate 2. How many are left?"
  • You can write or draw the subtraction number sentence
  • You can explain how you solved a subtraction story

Why this matters

Subtraction stories help you understand how numbers get smaller when things are taken away. This skill is useful in everyday life – like when you share toys, eat snacks, or count how many friends are left on the playground. It also prepares you for more advanced maths like word problems and equations. In Khan Academy Kids maths, subtraction stories are a fun way to learn how to take away numbers using play and imagination. They help you build confidence in maths before you start writing numbers and solving problems on paper.

How it works

Subtraction stories follow a simple pattern:
  1. Start with a group of things
  2. Take away some of those things
  3. Count how many are left
You can solve subtraction stories in many ways:
  • Use your fingers
  • Draw pictures
  • Use toys or blocks
  • Count backwards
Let’s look at how you can solve a subtraction story step by step.

Examples you can see

Example 1: The Toy Box You have 7 toy cars in your box. You give 3 toy cars to your friend. How many toy cars do you have left? Solution:
  • Start with 7 toy cars
  • Take away 3 toy cars
  • Count the remaining cars: 4 toy cars
Example 2: The Cake You have 10 pieces of cake. You eat 4 pieces. How many pieces are left? Solution:
  • Start with 10 pieces
  • Take away 4 pieces
  • Count the remaining pieces: 6 pieces
Example 3: The Balloons There are 8 balloons in the park. 3 balloons pop. How many balloons are left? Solution:
  • Start with 8 balloons
  • Take away 3 balloons
  • Count the remaining balloons: 5 balloons
You can solve these stories by:
  • Using your fingers to count backwards
  • Using objects like counters or blocks
  • Writing a number sentence like 8 – 3 = 5

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Lost Treasure Hunt You are on a treasure hunt in the garden. You start with 10 coins in your pocket. 1st time: You find 3 more coins. 2nd time: You give 1 coin to your friend. 3rd time: You find 2 more coins. 4th time: You give 4 coins to your little brother. 5th time: You find 1 more coin. How many coins do you have now? Solution:
  • Start with 10 coins
  • Add 3 coins: 10 + 3 = 13 coins
  • Take away 1 coin: 13 – 1 = 12 coins
  • Add 2 coins: 12 + 2 = 14 coins
  • Take away 4 coins: 14 – 4 = 10 coins
  • Add 1 coin: 10 + 1 = 11 coins
You now have 11 coins!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Counting the wrong number of things after taking some away. Why it happens: You might get confused and count the items again from the start. Fix: Use your fingers or a drawing to show how many are left.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to take away the correct number. Why it happens: You might not read the story carefully. Fix: Read the story slowly and count the items that are taken away.
  • Mistake: Thinking that subtraction means adding more. Why it happens: You might confuse the words "take away" with "add". Fix: Remember: subtraction means "taking things away", not "adding things".

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children with subtraction stories in just a few minutes:
  • Read a simple subtraction story together and act it out with toys or fingers
  • Ask your child to draw or use objects to solve the problem
  • Encourage them to explain how they solved it
  • Use real-life examples like sharing snacks or counting toys
  • Don’t worry if they make mistakes – they are learning!
What to say:
  • “Can you show me how many are left?”
  • “Let’s use your fingers to count backwards.”
  • “What happens when we take away 2?”
What not to worry about:
  • They might not know all the answers right away
  • They might count wrong at first
  • They might need help with reading the story

Practice questions

  1. You have 6 crayons. You give 2 to your sister. How many are left?
  2. There are 9 birds on a tree. 3 fly away. How many are left?
  3. You have 12 stickers. You use 5. How many do you have now?
  4. There are 5 cats in the garden. 2 run away. How many are left?
  5. You have 8 balloons. You pop 3. How many are left?
Answers:
  1. 6 – 2 = 4
  2. 9 – 3 = 6
  3. 12 – 5 = 7
  4. 5 – 2 = 3
  5. 8 – 3 = 5

FAQ

What is a subtraction story?

A subtraction story is a simple word problem that shows how things are taken away or reduced. You can solve it by using pictures, toys, or counting backwards.

Why do we learn subtraction stories?

Subtraction stories help us understand how numbers get smaller when things are taken away. This is useful in everyday life and prepares us for more complex maths.

Can I solve subtraction stories with my fingers?

Yes! You can use your fingers to count backwards or show how many are left after taking some away.

How can I practice subtraction stories at home?

You can practice by acting out stories with toys, drawing pictures, or using real-life examples like sharing snacks or counting your toys.

Are subtraction stories only for young children?

No! Subtraction stories are a helpful way to start learning subtraction, but they can be used for all ages to understand how numbers change when things are taken away.