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Maths Adventures

Farm maths quest: subtraction

A story-led junior maths adventure using crops, fences and animal groups to work out what is left after trades, rescues or escapes.

Quick answer

Subtraction is like taking away or finding what is left. When you have a group of things and take some away, subtraction helps you find how many are left.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to use subtraction to find what is left when you take things away, and you will be able to solve simple subtraction problems using objects, pictures, or numbers. Success signs:
  • You can take away objects and count how many are left
  • You can draw pictures to show subtraction
  • You can solve simple subtraction problems using numbers
  • You can think of real-life situations where subtraction happens

Why this matters

Subtraction is one of the most useful maths skills you can learn. It helps you know how many things you have left after sharing, giving away, or losing some. When you go to the shop and buy a toy, you use subtraction to see how much money you have left. When you're playing with your friends and one of them takes some of your toys, you use subtraction to find how many you have now. Subtraction helps you understand changes in numbers and is important for more maths later on, like division and fractions.

How it works

Subtraction means taking away or finding what is left. It's like this:
  1. Start with a group of things (like 5 apples)
  2. Take away some of those things (like 2 apples)
  3. Count how many are left (like 3 apples)
We write this as: 5 - 2 = 3 The minus sign (-) shows we are taking away. The equals sign (=) shows what is left. You can think of subtraction as:
  • Counting backwards
  • Comparing two groups to see the difference
  • Checking how much you have left after something happens

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're on a farm. You have 8 chickens in your coop. Example 1: You take 3 chickens to the market to sell. How many are left in the coop?
  • Start with 8 chickens
  • Take away 3 chickens
  • Count how many are left: 8 - 3 = 5 chickens
Example 2: You had 10 eggs in your basket. 4 eggs broke. How many eggs are left?
  • Start with 10 eggs
  • Take away 4 eggs (because they broke)
  • Count how many are left: 10 - 4 = 6 eggs
Example 3: You have 12 cows in the field. 5 cows go to the milking shed. How many cows are still in the field?
  • Start with 12 cows
  • Take away 5 cows
  • Count how many are left: 12 - 5 = 7 cows
You can also use pictures to help:
  • Draw 6 carrots
  • Draw a line through 2 carrots
  • Count the carrots left: 6 - 2 = 4 carrots

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Farm Rescue Mission You are a farmer's helper on a big farm. The farm is in trouble! Here's your mission:
  1. First time: You have 15 sheep in the pen. 4 sheep escape through a broken fence. How many sheep are left in the pen?
  2. Second time: You had 12 eggs in a basket. 3 eggs fall out and break. How many eggs are left?
  3. Third time: You have 10 pigs in the barn. 6 pigs go outside to play. How many pigs are still in the barn?
  4. Fourth time: You find 8 apples on the ground. 5 apples are good to eat. How many apples are not good?
  5. Fifth time: You have 14 chickens in the coop. 7 chickens go to the farmyard. How many chickens are left in the coop?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 7 - 3 = 10 instead of 4
    Why it happens: Sometimes children mix up subtraction with addition. They might add the numbers instead of taking them away.
    Fix: Use your fingers or objects to count backwards. For 7 - 3, start with 7 and count back 3: 6, 5, 4. So 7 - 3 = 4.
  • Mistake: Subtracting a bigger number from a smaller number
    Why it happens: Children might try to take away more than they have.
    Fix: If you have 5 apples and want to take away 8, you can't do it with real apples. But you can think of it as 8 - 5 = 3, and that means you need 3 more apples to have 8.
  • Mistake: Not using the minus sign correctly
    Why it happens: Some children don't know that the minus sign means "take away".
    Fix: Practice writing problems like 9 - 4 = 5. The minus sign is the symbol for taking away.
  • Mistake: Counting the wrong number of objects
    Why it happens: When using physical objects, children might lose count or count the same object twice.
    Fix: Count carefully and use a finger or mark each object as you count it.

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with subtraction at home is simple and fun! Here's how:
  • Use everyday situations: When you're at the shop, ask "If we had 10 coins and spent 3, how many coins do we have left?"
  • Use physical objects: Count out 8 blocks, take away 3, and let your child count how many are left.
  • Draw pictures together: Draw 10 flowers, cross out 4, and count how many are left.
  • Use games: Play "Subtraction War" with playing cards or use dice to make subtraction problems.
  • Be patient: It's okay if your child counts on their fingers or uses objects to solve problems. This is how they learn!
  • Don't rush: Let your child think and make mistakes. Learning happens through trying.
  • Keep it short: 5-10 minutes of practice is enough for young children.
  • Encourage: Praise your child for trying and working hard, even if they make a mistake.
  • Watch for confusion: If your child keeps mixing up addition and subtraction, use different colours for the signs or write problems in different formats.
  • Use real farm examples: If you have a garden or pets, use them to create subtraction problems.

Practice questions

  1. There were 10 carrots in the garden. 3 carrots were eaten by rabbits. How many carrots are left?
  2. You had 15 birds in the tree. 6 birds flew away. How many birds are left?
  3. There are 12 ducks in the pond. 4 ducks go to the shore. How many ducks are still in the pond?
  4. You have 9 balloons. 5 balloons pop. How many balloons are left?
  5. There were 14 tomatoes on the plant. 7 tomatoes were picked. How many tomatoes are left?
Answers:
  1. 10 - 3 = 7 carrots
  2. 15 - 6 = 9 birds
  3. 12 - 4 = 8 ducks
  4. 9 - 5 = 4 balloons
  5. 14 - 7 = 7 tomatoes

FAQ

What is subtraction?

Subtraction is when you take something away from a group. It helps you find how many are left. For example, if you have 8 apples and eat 3 apples, you use subtraction to find that 5 apples are left.

Why do we use subtraction?

We use subtraction to know how many things are left after we give some away, lose some, or use some. It's helpful for sharing, saving money, and understanding changes in numbers.

How can I practice subtraction at home?

You can practice subtraction using everyday things like toys, fruits, or blocks. Try asking questions like "If you had 10 cookies and ate 4, how many are left?" or draw pictures of things being taken away.

What's the difference between addition and subtraction?

Addition means putting things together to make more. Subtraction means taking things away to make less. For example, 5 + 3 = 8 (more) and 8 - 3 = 5 (less).

How can I help my child if they struggle with subtraction?

Use hands-on activities with objects, draw pictures, and practice with small numbers. Be patient and encourage them to try. If they make mistakes, help them count carefully or use their fingers to check their work.