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Maths Adventures

Zoo maths quest: subtraction

A story-led junior maths adventure using animal counts, feeding plans and habitat maps to work out what is left after trades, rescues or escapes.

Quick answer

Subtraction is about finding out how many are left when some are taken away, removed, or lost. In a Zoo maths quest, you might start with 12 monkeys and 5 escape, so you work out 12 – 5 = 7 monkeys left.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to use subtraction to find how many are left after some are taken away, and you will be able to solve simple zoo subtraction problems using objects, pictures, or numbers. Success signs:
  • You can count backwards or take away objects to find the answer
  • You can solve a subtraction problem using a number line
  • You can use subtraction to work out how many animals are left in a zoo
  • You can write a subtraction sentence like 10 – 3 = 7

Why this matters

Subtraction helps us figure out how many things are left when some are taken away. In the zoo, we use subtraction to know how many animals are still safe, how many food items are left, or how many new animals have arrived. It’s also helpful in games, sports, cooking, and sharing snacks.

How it works

Subtraction is the opposite of addition. Instead of adding things together, we take them away. We use the minus sign (–) to show subtraction. For example, if you have 8 bananas and eat 3, you subtract 3 from 8 to find how many are left. Steps:
  1. Start with a number (the total)
  2. Take away some (the number being subtracted)
  3. Count or calculate how many are left

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a zoo adventure! Example 1: Counting animals There are 15 zebras in the zoo. 4 zebras are moved to a new enclosure. How many zebras are left?
  • Start with: 15 zebras
  • Take away: 4 zebras
  • Subtract: 15 – 4 = 11 zebras left
Example 2: Feeding time The zoo keeper has 20 carrots. She gives 7 carrots to the rabbits. How many carrots are left?
  • Start with: 20 carrots
  • Take away: 7 carrots
  • Subtract: 20 – 7 = 13 carrots left
Example 3: Rescue mission There were 10 baby pandas in the zoo. 3 were rescued and taken to another zoo. How many baby pandas are left?
  • Start with: 10 baby pandas
  • Take away: 3 baby pandas
  • Subtract: 10 – 3 = 7 baby pandas left

Try it as a mini adventure

Zoo Rescue Mission! You are a zoo keeper on a special rescue mission. You have 18 animals in your care, but 6 animals escaped during the night. You need to find out how many animals are still safe.
  • Start with: 18 animals
  • Escape: 6 animals
  • Subtract: 18 – 6 = ?
Now, draw a picture of your animals, or use counters to show the problem. Then, solve how many animals are left. Step-by-step:
  • Draw 18 circles to represent animals
  • Take away 6 circles (they escaped)
  • Count how many are left
Challenge: If 4 more animals escaped the next day, how many would be left now? (Answer: 12 – 4 = 8 animals)

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Mixing up the order of numbers in subtraction, like 5 – 3 = 8 instead of 2.
    Why it happens: Confusing subtraction with addition or forgetting which number goes first.
    Fix: Always start with the bigger number and count backwards or take away the smaller number.
  • Mistake: Thinking that subtraction always makes the answer smaller.
    Why it happens: Not understanding that subtracting zero leaves the number the same.
    Fix: Remember that 5 – 0 = 5, because nothing is taken away.
  • Mistake: Not knowing what the minus sign means.
    Why it happens: Not having clear examples of taking away.
    Fix: Use physical objects like counters or toys to show “take away” or “what’s left”.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can support learning by:
  • Using everyday examples like “you had 10 cookies and ate 3, how many are left?”
  • Playing subtraction games with counters or toys
  • Reading storybooks with subtraction themes
  • Encouraging children to draw pictures of subtraction problems
  • Practising with simple number sentences and asking “what’s the answer?”
What to say:
  • “Let’s count how many are left after we take some away.”
  • “Can you show me with your hands how many are left?”
  • “What if we take away 2 more? How many would be left?”
What not to worry about:
  • Children may make mistakes – that’s part of learning
  • They might not know all subtraction facts yet – that’s okay
  • They might need to count or use objects – that’s normal

Practice questions

  1. There are 12 lions in the zoo. 4 lions are moved to a new area. How many lions are left?
  2. There are 15 birds in the aviary. 7 birds fly away. How many birds are left?
  3. There are 20 fish in the tank. 9 fish are fed. How many fish are left?
  4. There are 8 giraffes. 3 giraffes are given to another zoo. How many giraffes are left?
  5. There are 14 monkeys. 6 monkeys escape. How many monkeys are left?
Answers:
  1. 12 – 4 = 8 lions
  2. 15 – 7 = 8 birds
  3. 20 – 9 = 11 fish
  4. 8 – 3 = 5 giraffes
  5. 14 – 6 = 8 monkeys

FAQ

What is subtraction?

Subtraction is when you take away some things from a group, and you find out how many are left.

Why do we use subtraction?

We use subtraction to find out how many things are left after some are taken away, lost, or moved.

Can you subtract a bigger number from a smaller number?

Yes, but the answer is a negative number, which is a bit more advanced. For now, we only subtract smaller numbers from bigger ones.

How can I practice subtraction at home?

You can use toys, counters, or even food like crackers or fruit to practice taking away and counting what’s left.

What is the minus sign?

The minus sign (–) shows that we are subtracting or taking away one number from another.