What Does Subtracting 8 Mean?
Subtracting 8 means we're taking away 8 from a number.
Imagine you have a box of 15 crayons and you give 8 to your friend. How many crayons do you have left? That's subtracting 8!
How to Subtract 8
1️⃣ Count backwards: Start from your number and count back 8
2️⃣ Use your fingers: Hold up the number and put down 8 fingers
3️⃣ Think of 10: Subtract 10 then add 2 (because 8 is 2 less than 10)
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: 12 - 8
Let's subtract 8 from 12 using a number line:
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
Start at 12 and jump back 8 spaces. Where do you land?
You landed on 4! So 12 - 8 = 4. Great job! 🎉
Example 2: 17 - 8
Imagine you have 17 apples and eat 8 of them. How many are left?
Try the "Think of 10" trick:
17 - 10 = 7 (first subtract 10)
But we only wanted to subtract 8, so we took away 2 extra!
7 + 2 = 9 (add back those 2 extra)
That's right! 17 - 8 = 9 apples left. Yummy math! 🍎
Parent Tips 🌟
- Use snacks: Have your child count out 8 crackers from a pile to see subtraction in action
- Hopscotch math: Draw a number line with chalk outside and have them jump backwards 8 spaces
- Daily practice: Ask quick "minus 8" questions throughout the day ("If you have 15 toys and share 8...")