Free printable math drill — download and print instantly
This Subtracting Multiples Of 10 drill has 40 problems for Grade 1. School Play theme. Answer key included.
⬇ Download Free Math DrillGet new free worksheets every week.
All worksheets checked by our AI verification system. No wrong answers — guaranteed.
Max must collect all missing props backstage before the curtain rises in five minutes!
Standard: CCSS.MATH.1.NBT.C.6
Subtracting multiples of 10 is a cornerstone skill that helps first graders recognize patterns in our number system and build confidence with two-digit math. When a child can quickly solve problems like 50 - 20 or 80 - 30, they're not just memorizing facts—they're learning that tens work as predictable units, much like counting groups during school play. This understanding prepares them for regrouping in subtraction and stronger number sense in second grade. At ages 6-7, children's brains are primed to spot patterns, and subtracting multiples of 10 leverages that natural ability. It also makes mental math faster and reduces reliance on counting on fingers. Mastering this skill builds the foundation for understanding place value, which is essential for all future math success.
Many first graders subtract the tens digit incorrectly by confusing which number to subtract from which—for example, writing 70 - 40 = 30 but then saying it equals 20 because they subtracted 7 - 4 instead of 7 - 4 tens. Others mistakenly change the ones digit when subtracting tens, calculating 65 - 20 as 43 instead of 45. Watch for students who count by ones from the larger number instead of recognizing the pattern: they'll take much longer and make careless errors. A quick way to spot confusion is to ask, 'If we take away 30, does the 5 in 65 change?' Their answer reveals whether they grasp the concept.
Create a simple tens chart at home using number cards or a whiteboard: write numbers like 70, 60, 50, 40 down the left side and have your child subtract a multiple of 10 aloud before you write the answer. Make it tactile by using 10 pennies bundled in small cups or coin rolls—your child removes one or two 'bundles' of 10 and immediately sees the ones stay the same. This concrete movement helps cement the pattern much faster than worksheet drills alone and feels more like a game than practice.