Taking away — Mathematics, 4–6 years
See subtraction as what remains when some objects leave a group. Mathematics, 4–6 years.
What taking away means
When some things leave a group, the group becomes smaller. We can count the things that remain instead of guessing. The number tells us how many are still there.
Why we take away
People need to know what is left after something is used, eaten or moved away. Long ago, someone with five sheep still needed to count them after two wandered off. Taking away gives a quick way to describe this change.
Five apples, two eaten
Put five apples in a row and count them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Move two apples away because they are eaten. Count the row that remains: 1, 2, 3. So five take away two leaves three.
The counting trap
A common mistake is to say the number of the last object moved away, rather than count what remains. This is understandable because we naturally notice the action first. Keep the moved objects separate, then touch each remaining object once while counting.
Where it helps
You use taking away when you have some crackers and eat a few, or when toys are put back in a box. It also helps answer questions such as how many seats are still empty. The objects may change, but the idea stays the same.
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