Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers Using Base Ten Blocks
Basics on the topic Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers Using Base Ten Blocks
Subtraction using Base Ten Blocks
We can subtract numbers within 100 using base ten blocks along with other numbers, but in this text we are practicing 2 digit subtraction with base ten blocks. That means we will be subtracting the tens place and the ones place of two numbers. How do you subtract using tens and ones? Let’s take a look at the example of subtraction with base ten blocks in the next section.
Subtraction using Base Ten Blocks – Example
How do you Subtract Using Base Ten Blocks? Let’s look at an example. They started with forty-eight boxes of pizza, and the sneaky squid took twenty-five. Let's subtract twenty-five from forty-eight to see how many boxes of pizza are left. When subtracting two-digit numbers, we can use base ten blocks on a place value chart to help. First, we put the numbers in a place value chart starting with the larger number.
Forty-eight in a place value chart looks like this:
| Tens | Ones |
|---|---|
| 4 | 8 |
Twenty-five in a place value chart looks like this:
| Tens | Ones |
|---|---|
| 2 | 5 |
The next step is to represent how much pizza they started with. Since there is a four in the tens place, we put four tens in the tens place.
There is an eight in the ones place, so we put eight ones in the ones place.
The second step is to subtract twenty-five starting with the ones place, so subtract five from eight. If we take five ones from the ones place, we have three left.
Next, move to the tens place and subtract two TENS from four tens. If we take two TENS from the tens place, we have two left.
Forty-eight minus twenty-five is twenty-three.
Subtraction using Base Ten Blocks – Summary
When you practice subtraction with base ten blocks no regrouping, these are the steps to follow:
| Step # | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Represent the number you started with on the place value chart using base ten blocks. |
| 2 | Take away blocks, by first subtracting the ones place and then the tens place. |
| 3 | What remains is the answer. |
Want some more subtraction with base ten blocks practice? You can find two-digit subtraction with base ten blocks worksheets, along with interactive exercises and more activities on this website.
Transcript Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers Using Base Ten Blocks
Mr. Squeaks and Imani have been in Italy (...) and are bringing some pizza and lasagna home. Oh no, it looks like this sneaky squid is hungry too! In order to see how much pizza and lasagna they have left, we need to help Mr. Squeaks and Imani subtract the boxes the sneaky squid took. "Subtracting Two-Digit Numbers Using Base Ten Blocks" They started with forty-eight boxes of pizza, and the sneaky squid took twenty-five. Let's subtract twenty-five from forty-eight to see how many boxes of pizza are left. When subtracting two-digit numbers, we can use base ten blocks on a place value chart to help. The first step is to represent how much pizza they started with. They started with forty-eight boxes, so we'll use base ten blocks to show it on the place value chart. Since there is a four in the tens place, (...) we put four TENS in the tens place. (...) There is an eight in the ones place, (...) so we put eight ONES in the ones place. (...) The second step is to subtract twenty-five starting with the ones place (...) so subtract five from eight. If we take five ONES from the ones place, (...) we have three left. Next, move to the tens place and subtract two TENS from four tens. If we take two TENS from the tens place, we have two left. Forty-eight minus twenty-five is twenty-three. Mr. Squeaks and Imani have twenty-three boxes of pizza left on the boat. Now let's see how much lasagna they have left. They started with eighty-six boxes of lasagna, and the sneaky squid took fifty-two... so we need to solve eighty-six minus fifty-two. First, represent eighty-six on the place value chart using base ten blocks. What number is in the tens place? (...) There is an eight in the tens place, (...) so we put eight TENS in the tens place. (...) What number is in the ones place? (...) There is a six in the ones place, (...) so we put six ONES in the ones place. The second step is to subtract fifty-two starting with the ones place, which means we subtract two from six. What is six minus two? (...) If we take two ONES from the ones place, (...) we have four left. Next, we subtract the tens place, which means we subtract five TENS from eight tens. What is eight TENS minus five tens? (...) Three tens, so... eighty-six minus fifty-two is thirty-four. Mr. Squeaks and Imani have thirty-four boxes of lasagna left on the boat. Remember (...) when you subtract using base ten blocks... the first step is to represent the number we started with on the place value chart (...) using base ten blocks. The second step is to take away blocks, by first subtracting the ones place and then the tens place. What remains is the answer. Mr. Squeaks and Imani still have enough pizza and lasagna to enjoy when they get home, but there's just one question: What did the sneaky squid do with all that food?
