Numbers up to 9
Primary 1 · Mathematics
Numbers up to 9
Lesson 8 of 8
13 min
Let's begin
Gatete carries 9 bananas home from the market.
On the road he eats 3 of them.
His basket feels lighter now.
Today you will take away, up to 9.
The sign - says: take some away.
9 − 3 = 6
This is read: nine take away three equals six.
Say it out loud with me.
When you take some away, the number always gets smaller.
Worked example
9 - 3.
Step 1 Start on 9.
Step 2 Do not count 9.
Step 3 Jump back three times: 8, 7, 6.
Step 4 You landed on 6.
Gatete has 6 bananas left.
Careful! Some children say 7. They counted 9 as their first jump.
Your first jump must land on 8.
Keza has 9 beans. Uwase has 4 beans.
How many more beans does Keza have than Uwase?
Lay the beans in two rows. Match one to one.
4 of Keza's beans find a partner.
5 beans have no partner at all.
9 − 4 = 5. Keza has 5 more beans.
Careful! Do not add. 13 is not the answer.
You said 9 − 3 = 6.
Now put the 3 bananas back: 6 + 3 = 9.
You are back where you started. Your answer was right.
Worked example
7 - 2.
Byiringiro has 7 sticks for the fire.
He puts 2 sticks on the fire.
Step 1 Start on 7. Do not count 7.
Step 2 Jump back twice: 6, 5.
Step 3 He has 5 sticks left.
Check it: 5 + 2 = 7. Your answer is right.
Tip
Start on it. Do not count it
Jump back one number for each thing you take away.
Then add the beans back to check your answer.
A take away song. Sing it and count back.
Jump back out loud, then tap Show answer to check.
8 - 2 = ?
Answer: 6. Start on 8. Jump: 7, 6.
7 - 4 = ?
Answer: 3. Start on 7. Jump: 6, 5, 4, 3.
9 - 5 = ?
Answer: 4. Start on 9. Jump: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.
Mutesi has 8 eggs. 3 eggs break. How many are left?
Answer: 5 eggs. Start on 8. Jump: 7, 6, 5.
Habimana has 7 goats. Umutoni has 5 goats. How many more goats does Habimana have?
Answer: 2 goats. Match them one to one. 7 − 5 = 2.
What you learned today
Two free books for counting past five.
Kubara inyamaswa is in Kinyarwanda. Thirsty animals come to the water, a new group on every page, so you count again each time. It is from African Storybook, free to read.
Counting cats is in easy English and it counts all the way from zero to nine. It is also from African Storybook, free to read.
Quick check
