Balance subtraction equations – up to two digits

Learn with an example

🧩 Which number makes the equation true?

15 − 12 = ______ − 11

  • First, subtract 15 − 12:
  • 15 – 12 = ? – 11
  • 3 = ? – 11
  • Find the number that makes the subtraction number sentence true.
  • ? − 11 = 3
  • Add 11 to both sides:
  • ? − 11 + 11 = 3 + 11
  • ? = 14
  • The missing number is 14.

🧩 Which number makes the equation true?

15 −______  = 18 − 18

  • First, subtract 18 − 18:
  • 15 – ? = 18 − 18
  • 15 – ? = 0
  • Subtract 0 from both sides:
  • 15 – ? – 0 = 0 – 0
  • 15 – ? = 0
  • Now, find the number that goes in the blank space. Remember, when a number is subtracted from itself, the difference is zero. The number in the blank space must be 15.
  • The missing number is 15.

🧩 Which number makes the equation true?

17 −______  = 18 − 11

  • First, subtract 18 − 11:
  • 17 – ? = 18 – 11
    17 – ? = 7
  • Subtract 7 from both sides:
  • 17 – ? – 7 = 7 – 7
  • 10 – ? = 0
  • Now, find the number that goes in the blank space. Remember, when a number is subtracted from itself, the difference is zero. The number in the blank space must be 10.
  • The missing number is 10.

Let’s practice!🖋️