Take Away Basics

NCERT anchor: NCERT Joyful Mathematics Class 1 — Chapter 5: How Many Ate? (subtraction as taking away)

• Understand subtraction as taking away objects from a group, with answers up to 10.
• Use the minus (−) sign and read it as "take away" or "minus."
• Connect subtraction to everyday moments: eating fruit, giving away pencils, birds flying off a tree.

1. Subtraction means taking away

Level 1 (Verbal): 7 laddoos on a plate. Dadi takes away 3 laddoos. Count what remains: 4 laddoos.

Level 2 (Symbolic): 7 − 3 = 4. The − sign means "take away" or "minus."

Visual: Draw 7 dots. Cross out 3 of them. Count the dots left without a cross.

2. Counting what is left

After crossing out, count only the dots without a cross, one by one, starting from 1.

3. Subtracting zero

If nothing is taken away, the group stays the same: 6 − 0 = 6.

4. Subtracting the whole group

If everything is taken away, nothing is left: 5 − 5 = 0.

Sharing mangoes at home

Step 1 — Amma keeps 8 mangoes in a basket.
Step 2 — She gives 3 mangoes to the neighbour.
Step 3 — Cross out 3 mangoes from the 8 drawn.
Step 4 — Count the mangoes without a cross: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Answer: 5 mangoes are left in the basket.

• What is 6 − 2?
• What is 9 − 0?
• There are 8 stars on a chart. 4 stars are erased. How many stars are left?
• Stretch: Kabir has 7 crayons. He gives 2 to his sister and 1 to his friend. How many crayons does Kabir have now?

Revision tip: Use real buttons or coins at home — take a few away and count what remains, every day.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Take Away Basics.