Subtract two 2-digit numbers mentally when no borrowing is needed.
Where your child meets this in real life: Finding differences, calculating change, or comparing quantities
SEAGReady breaks subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow) into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Mentally subtract a 2-digit multiple of 10 from a 2-digit number (e.g., 87 - 40 = 47)
Mentally subtract any 2-digit number from another when no borrowing is needed (e.g., 86 - 34 = 52)
Three free sample questions from our subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow) course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Aoife has 67p in her purse. She spends 20p on a pencil. How much money does she have left?
Answer: A. 47p
We need to subtract 20 from 67. 20 is a multiple of 10, so only the tens change. 67 has 6 tens and 7 ones. Subtract 2 tens: 6 - 2 = 4 tens. The ones stay the same: 7 ones. Answer: 47p
Stuck? Start here: You are taking away 20p. Which digit will change - the tens or the ones?
Conor scores 89 points in a maths quiz. His sister Sophie scores 34 points. How many more points did Conor score?
Answer: A. 55 points
We need to subtract 34 from 89. Split into tens and ones: 89 = 80 + 9 34 = 30 + 4 Subtract the tens: 80 - 30 = 50 Subtract the ones: 9 - 4 = 5 Combine: 50 + 5 = 55 points
Stuck? Start here: To find how many more, you need to subtract. Split both numbers into tens and ones.
Sean has 85 football stickers. He gives 30 stickers to his friend Declan. How many stickers does Sean have left?
Answer: C. 55 stickers
We need to subtract 30 from 85. 30 is 3 tens. 85 has 8 tens and 5 ones. Subtract the tens: 8 - 3 = 5 tens. The ones stay the same: 5 ones. 50 + 5 = 55 stickers
Stuck? Start here: You're taking away 30 stickers. 30 is how many tens?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Ciara has 78p in her pocket. She spends 30p on a sticker at the school fair.
How much money does she have left?
78 − 30
Step 1 of 5
Ciara has 78p in her pocket. She spends 30p on a sticker at the school fair.
How much money does she have left?
Ciara has 48p left.
The key insight: When you subtract tens, only the tens digit changes - the ones digit stays exactly the same!
Watch out: 78 − 30 = 75. Subtracting 3 from the ones instead of 3 tens from the tens.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow), including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with subtract 2-digit numbers (no borrow)? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.