Double Digit Subtraction (No Regrouping)
30 two-digit subtraction problems stacked in columns on three pages. In every column the top digit is at least as big as the bottom one, so nothing has to be borrowed. It's for 2nd graders learning to subtract by place value.
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Subtracting column by column
Start with the ones, then the tens. A quick look at the tens shows roughly where the answer will land: 97 − 82 is 9 tens minus 8 tens, so the answer is in the teens.
If a student is unsure, draw the top number as tens and ones. 97 is 9 sticks of ten and 7 dots. Cross out 8 sticks and 2 dots, and what's left is 1 stick and 5 dots, or 15. The column method is a shorthand for exactly that.
When these feel easy, move on to double-digit subtraction with regrouping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does no regrouping mean in subtraction?
Each digit on top is at least as large as the digit below it, so every column can be subtracted on its own without borrowing from the next one.
Why do some answers have only one digit?
When the two numbers are close, like 29 − 27, the tens cancel out and the answer is 2. Some students write 02, which isn't wrong, but 2 is how the number is usually written.
How can students check their answers?
Add the answer to the bottom number. It should give back the top number. For 68 − 52 = 16, 16 + 52 = 68.