Missing Number, Subtract Within 20
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Missing Number, Subtract Within 20" is written for 1st Grade (Ages 6-7), and it covers Common Core 1.OA.D.8. If your little one is a year younger but already steady on subtraction, the page still works. You may just need to read the instructions out loud. And if they are older and subtraction strategies never quite stuck, this is a short review rather than busywork.


1st grade math worksheet: find the missing number in subtraction facts within 20 by thinking of a known fact. Answer key included. Part of our subtraction strategies collection. Aligned to Common Core standards.
How do I use this worksheet?
Match the strategy to the numbers: count back for small numbers taken away, think addition or make ten for bigger ones. Have your child say the matching addition fact out loud, like 7 plus 5 equals 12, before writing the difference.
What students will practice
- Students will subtract within 20 by counting back, using a number line, thinking addition and making ten.
- Students will choose the best strategy for a subtraction fact.
- Students will find missing numbers in subtraction equations.
Curriculum Links
Common Core State Standards
Operations and Algebraic Thinking · 1st Grade
Standard: Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers.
View all 1.OA.D.8 worksheets →Find this in the curriculum
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FAQ
How do I use this subtraction strategies worksheet?
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Match the strategy to the numbers: count back for small numbers taken away, think addition or make ten for bigger ones. Have your child say the matching addition fact out loud, like 7 plus 5 equals 12, before writing the difference.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Find the missing number in subtraction facts within 20 by thinking of a known fact. To subtract means to take away. A box shows the missing number that makes the fact true. The directions on the page read: Think of the fact you know. Then, write the missing number in each box. The page opens with a worked example, and the answer key shows every answer.
Can I use this subtraction strategies worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 1st Grade subtraction, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with subtraction strategies. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.
What subtraction strategies do 1st graders learn?
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They count back, hop left on a number line, think addition and subtract down to ten. Each strategy turns a harder fact into steps a child already knows.
How does think addition work?
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For 12 - 7, a student asks what number added to 7 makes 12. Since 7 + 5 = 12, the answer is 5. The think addition sheet gives an addition box to fill in first.
How should I choose a strategy for my child?
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Count back works best when the number taken away is small, like 1, 2 or 3. For larger numbers, think addition or making ten is usually faster. The which strategy sheet lets students practice choosing.
Which standards do these sheets support?
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They support 1.OA.C.6 (subtract within 20), 1.OA.B.4 (subtraction as an unknown addend) and 1.OA.D.8 (find the missing number in a subtraction equation).
What subtraction skills should a first grader have?
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First graders should subtract within 20 using strategies like counting back, using related addition facts, and making ten (CCSS 1.OA.C.6). They should also understand the relationship between addition and subtraction and solve comparison word problems.
How can I help my first grader who struggles with subtraction?
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Use number lines and hundred charts to make subtraction visual. Practice fact families (e.g., 3+4=7, 7-4=3) to show how addition and subtraction are connected. Start with subtraction within 10 before moving to larger numbers. Consistent daily practice with worksheets builds confidence.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 1st Grade |
| Subject | Math |
| Topic | Subtraction |
| Standard | 1.OA.D.8 |
| Pages | 1 page |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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