Maths help, simple subtraction but the best way of explaining the answer.

[MotleyCroup]

Ds (Y2) came home with some subtraction homework.

Tbh I'm finding it a struggle to explain the best way to get to the answer.

So you basically had to find the hidden number.

_ - 23 = 14 (I explained the best way was to add the answer to the remaining number?) so the answer in the case was 37.

36 - _ = 24 - we know the answer is 12 by subtracting 36-24 but how is the best way of explaining this?

I know there is a longer way around by using tens and units.

Think I need to go back to school.

It's the explaining how we get to the answer which I'm really pants at

Also a simple subtraction such as 26-12
I'd set this out on paper the way I was taught
So 26
12
=14

Would Y2 set it out in this way?

Sorry I'm a complete dinosaur!

No worries. I just assumed my post wasn't clear.

I noticed that dd1 finds it easier to add a smaller number to a bigger number so when they're written the other way round I told her she could switch them. She didn't really 'get it' until I got some cuisenaire rods - we then did number bonds for 10 and seeing that adding numbers the other way round is just like swapping the coloured rods round made it really click for her. Same with saying 10 take away a number is like finding the matching coloured rod for the number bond. It was a bit more visual than numbers written on a page.