Max Rescues Lost Ladybugs: Subtract by Tens!

About this Grade 1 Subtracting Multiples Of 10 Drill

Subtracting multiples of 10 is a foundational skill that helps first graders understand how our base-10 number system works. When children learn that 45 - 10 = 35, they're not just memorizing facts—they're discovering that the ones place stays the same while only the tens place changes. This insight makes larger subtraction problems less intimidating and builds confidence with two-digit numbers. In real life, this skill appears constantly: counting back by tens when making change, removing groups of ten objects from a pile, or tracking scores in games. At ages 6 and 7, brains are developing the ability to recognize patterns and apply them repeatedly, which is exactly what happens when subtracting multiples of 10. Mastering this skill creates a stepping stone to more complex subtraction strategies children will need throughout elementary math.

What your student will practice

• Subtract multiples of 10 from two-digit numbers with fluency
• Recognize that subtracting 10, 20, or 30 only changes the tens digit
• Apply skip-counting backward by tens to solve subtraction problems
• Solve real-world subtraction word problems involving groups of ten

Common mistakes to watch for

The most common error is when children subtract from both the tens and ones places, turning 37 - 20 into 17 instead of 17 by accidentally reducing the ones digit. You'll spot this when a student writes 37 - 20 = 16, showing they subtracted the 2 from both digits rather than just the tens place. Another frequent mistake is confusing the direction: some children add the multiple of 10 instead of subtracting it. If your child consistently gets problems wrong by 10, 20, or 30, they may be reversing the operation rather than misunderstanding place value itself.