Picture subtraction worksheet
Six picture equations on one page. Some of the pictures in each group are already crossed out, so the child counts the ones that are left and writes the answer in the box. Pick your numbers and pictures, then print. Free, no account, no ads.
Numbers
Within 5 is the place to start and prints the largest pictures. Within 10 suits grade 1.
Pictures
Every group uses one picture, so the crossed out ones read as part of the same set.
Orientation
Picture Subtraction
Some pictures are crossed out. Count the ones that are left. Write the answer.
- 3-1=
- 5-2=
- 4-3=
- 5-1=
- 2-1=
- 4-2=
Quick Math Sheets
How it works
Each row is a picture equation: one group of pictures with the last few crossed through, then the numbers, a minus sign, an equals sign, and an empty box. The child sees how many there were to start with, sees how many were taken away, counts what remains, and writes that number in the box. Nothing on the page gives the answer away, so every row is real practice.
Why one group, not two
The crossed out pictures stay fully visible on purpose. A child needs to see what was taken away to understand that subtraction removes from a set rather than compares two sets. Keeping everything in one group also keeps the sheet visually distinct from picture addition, where two separate groups mean join them together. Start within 5, which prints the largest pictures, then move to within 10 once counting back is comfortable.
Where it fits
This is the partner sheet to picture addition, and most children do that one first. Before either, the two counting sheets build the groundwork: count and color asks a child to read how many are in a group, and color the correct number of objects asks them to make a group of a given size. The kindergarten and grade 1 pages gather the resources for this age, and when pictures are no longer needed you can make a subtraction worksheet in seconds.
A simple routine