5 or less balls were in a box. Some balls were crossed out and taken away. The number of balls taken away and the number left were counted. Subtraction is taking away parts of a set. For example, in the subtraction sentence 5 - 2 = 3, 5 is the total number, 2 is taken away, and 3 is the number left, or the difference.

1. Subtraction from
5 or Less

3. Count all the balls in the box. How many balls
are there?

4. Now, take away the balls that are crossed out. How
many balls are taken away? How many balls are left?

5. To take away some things in a set
is to subtract them. This is called
subtraction.

6. Subtraction is taking away things
from a given numbers of things in a
set.

7. Below is a subtraction sentence.
5 - 2 = 3
minus sign
equal sign
difference

8. A subtraction sentence has the
following parts:
• The minus sign (-), which is read as “minus” or
“take away”.
• The equal sign (=), which is read as “equals” or “is
equal to”.
• The difference, which is the answer in subtraction.

9. The subtraction sentence above can be
read as
“5 take away 2 is 3” or “5 minus 2 equals 3.”

10. End of the Slide!