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Maths•Picture Addition & Subtraction

Subtract with pictures

Lower Primary 10 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What subtract with pictures means

You look at a set of pictures, count what is there, and take some away. Then you find how many are left. This helps you solve simple number stories and picture questions quickly.

What you will practise

  • Count all the objects before taking any away.
  • Cross out or remove the pictures that leave the set.
  • Say the answer as the number left behind.
  • Match simple story words like eats, gives away, or swim away.

Before you start

You should already be able to count small groups of objects in order. You should also know numbers up to at least 10 and understand that taking away makes a group smaller.

Not confident yet? Work through Add with pictures first.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

There are 5 mangoes. Ama eats 2 of them. How many are left?

  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Answer: 3

Working: 5 take away 2 leaves 3 mangoes.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Counting the objects after removing some can give the wrong total. Count first, then take away.
  • Removing the wrong number of pictures changes the answer. Check the story carefully.
  • Stopping after crossing out pictures without counting the rest leads to mistakes. Count what is left.
  • Mixing up add and take away words can confuse you. Look for words that show something leaving.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES Basic 1 to 3 syllabusSchool-based assessment

This topic normally appears in Lower Primary number work, where learners build early subtraction skills with pictures and objects. It supports school-based continuous assessment and end-of-term tests by checking simple counting, taking away, and reading short number stories.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other Picture Addition & Subtraction skills in Maths, at the same point in the course.

Other Maths topics

Early NumeracyNumber BasicsSHS Core MathematicsUniversity MathematicsAlgebraGeometry

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Exams that assess subtract with pictures

Lower Primary work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the Maths topics that appear on it.

GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the WASSCE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
DigiTransact Mastermind editorial team
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Practise subtract with pictures

10 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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