Subtract Using Compensation Resources

On Education.com, educators and parents can find a variety of subtraction worksheets and activities that teach the strategy of subtracting using compensation. These resources include printable exercises that guide students through adjusting numbers to make calculations easier, such as adding or subtracting the same amount from both numbers to create “friendlier” numbers like multiples of ten. This method helps children develop mental math skills and understand number relationships more deeply.

Subtracting using compensation is a flexible strategy where learners modify one number in a subtraction problem to simplify the calculation, then adjust the result accordingly. For example, students might add 10 to both numbers in a subtraction to make one number a multiple of ten, then subtract as usual before compensating for the adjustment. This approach encourages flexible thinking in math and builds confidence in performing mental calculations.

Parents and teachers can use these subtraction worksheets and activities to introduce or reinforce the compensation strategy, providing hands-on practice to improve arithmetic fluency. These resources support learning at home or in the classroom, making math fun and engaging while helping students become confident, flexible mathematicians.