Subtracting tens means taking a number of tens away from a multiple of ten, such as 90 - 30, and it works just like subtracting small numbers: 9 tens take away 3 tens is 6 tens. Children who see this do not need a new method for numbers in the nineties. This worksheet is a clean page of subtraction sentences in one shape: a multiple of ten, a minus sign, a multiple of ten and a line for the answer.
Support sheets use numbers up to 70, standard sheets go up to 90 and challenge sheets include taking away all the tens and 100. Say the numbers as tens: 9 tens take away 3 tens leaves 6 tens, which is 60.
What your child will learn
Subtract multiples of ten from multiples of ten
Think of tens as units: 9 tens - 3 tens
Use a basic fact to subtract tens
Write a multiple of ten as an answer
Common Core standard: 1.NBT.C.6
Worked example
90 - 30: think 9 tens take away 3 tens is 6 tens. 6 tens is 60. Write 60.
Common mistake
Subtracting the tens digits but forgetting the zero, so writing 6 instead of 60.
Helpful hint
Think of the tens as ones: 9 - 3 = 6, so 90 - 30 = 60.