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Maths Adventures

Theme park maths quest: subtraction

A story-led junior maths adventure using queues, tickets and ride timings to work out what is left after trades, rescues or escapes.

Quick answer

Subtraction is like taking away or finding what is left. In a theme park, you might start with 20 tickets and spend 7 on a ride, leaving you with 13 tickets.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to solve subtraction problems using real-life examples from theme parks, like finding out how many people are left in a queue or how many tickets you have after buying rides. Success signs:
  • You can subtract numbers up to 20
  • You can solve story problems about theme park situations
  • You can use objects or drawings to help you subtract
  • You can check if your answer makes sense

Why this matters

Subtraction is used everywhere! In theme parks, you need to know how many tickets you have left after buying rides, how many people are in a queue, or how long you have to wait. It helps you plan your day and make smart choices about which rides to go on. Subtraction is also used in cooking, shopping, sports, and even in games. It's a very useful skill that helps you understand how much of something you have or need.

How it works

Subtraction means taking something away. You start with a number (the bigger number), take away a smaller number, and find out how much is left. For example, if you have 10 apples and eat 3, you subtract 3 from 10 to find out you have 7 apples left. The symbol for subtraction is -. The number you start with is called the minuend, and the number you take away is called the subtrahend. The answer is called the difference. You can subtract using:
  • Counting backwards
  • Using your fingers
  • Counting objects
  • Number lines
  • Drawings

Examples you can see

Let's look at some fun theme park examples to help you understand subtraction. Example 1: Tickets You start with 15 tickets. You spend 8 tickets on a rollercoaster. How many tickets do you have left?
  • Start with 15 tickets
  • Take away 8 tickets
  • Count backwards: 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7
  • You have 7 tickets left
Example 2: Queue Length There are 24 people in the queue for the Ferris wheel. 9 people get on the ride. How many people are still waiting?
  • Start with 24 people
  • Take away 9 people
  • Count backwards: 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15
  • There are 15 people still waiting
Example 3: Ride Timing The water slide opens at 10:00 am. It closes at 4:00 pm. If you have been waiting 3 hours, how long do you have left to ride?
  • From 10:00 to 4:00 is 6 hours
  • Subtract the time you've waited: 6 - 3 = 3 hours
  • You have 3 more hours to ride

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Theme Park Rescue Mission You are a theme park helper who needs to solve subtraction puzzles to help people in trouble! Step 1: You see a group of 18 children waiting in line for the carousel. 5 children have already gotten on. How many children are still in line?
  • Start with 18 children
  • Take away 5 children
  • Answer: ? children
Step 2: You have 12 tickets. You spend 6 tickets on the big rollercoaster. How many tickets do you have left?
  • Start with 12 tickets
  • Take away 6 tickets
  • Answer: ? tickets
Step 3: The pizza stand has 20 slices. 11 slices are sold. How many slices are left?
  • Start with 20 slices
  • Take away 11 slices
  • Answer: ? slices
Step 4: The Ferris wheel has 16 seats. 7 people are already seated. How many seats are still free?
  • Start with 16 seats
  • Take away 7 people
  • Answer: ? seats
Step 5: You started with 25 balloons. 10 balloons floated away. How many balloons do you have now?
  • Start with 25 balloons
  • Take away 10 balloons
  • Answer: ? balloons

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Confusing which number goes first in subtraction.
    • Why it happens: Children might think that the smaller number always goes first.
    • Fix: Remember that the bigger number goes first. If you have 10 cookies and eat 3, you start with 10.
  • Mistake: Counting backwards incorrectly.
    • Why it happens: When counting backwards, children might skip numbers or make mistakes.
    • Fix: Use your fingers or count objects to help you subtract.
  • Mistake: Forgetting that subtraction can result in zero.
    • Why it happens: Children might think you can't have zero as an answer.
    • Fix: If you have 5 tickets and spend all 5, you have 0 tickets left.
  • Mistake: Thinking subtraction means "take away" but not understanding that you can subtract any number from any number.
    • Why it happens: Children might only think of subtraction as taking away a small number.
    • Fix: Practice with bigger numbers to understand that subtraction works with all numbers.

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with subtraction doesn't have to be hard! Here are some ways you can support their learning at home:
  • Use everyday situations to practice subtraction, like when you're shopping or cooking
  • Ask questions like "How many toys are left after you gave 3 away?"
  • Let your child use objects like counters, blocks, or even food to help them understand
  • Play subtraction games using dice or cards
  • Encourage them to check their answers by adding the result back to the number they took away
  • Be patient if they make mistakes - that's how they learn!
Remember that subtraction is about finding what's left, so encourage your child to think about the story behind the problem. Ask questions like "What happened in the story?" and "What do we need to find out?"

Practice questions

  1. You have 10 tickets. You spend 4 tickets on a ride. How many tickets do you have left?
  2. There are 15 people in line. 6 people get on a ride. How many people are still waiting?
  3. Start with 18 balloons. 9 balloons float away. How many are left?
  4. You have 12 cookies. You eat 5 cookies. How many cookies are left?
  5. There are 20 children at the playground. 7 children go home. How many children are still at the playground?
Answers:
  1. 6 tickets
  2. 9 people
  3. 9 balloons
  4. 7 cookies
  5. 13 children

FAQ

What is subtraction?

Subtraction is when you take something away from a group. It's like having 10 cookies and eating 3 - you subtract 3 from 10 to find out you have 7 cookies left.

How do I know which number to subtract from which?

Always start with the bigger number. If you have 15 candies and eat 6, you start with 15 and subtract 6.

Why is subtraction important?

Subtraction helps us understand how much is left after we use or spend something. It's useful for money, time, sharing, and many other everyday situations.

What are some ways to practice subtraction?

You can practice by using objects like blocks or counters, drawing pictures, counting backwards, or solving story problems about your daily life.

Can I subtract a bigger number from a smaller number?

Yes, but the answer will be a negative number, which is a bit more advanced. For now, we'll focus on subtracting smaller numbers from bigger ones.