Subtract Tens

Let's subtract 10 from 48.

48 – 10 = ?
 

Here,
48 can be written as 4 tens and 8 ones.

10 can be written as 1 ten.
 

So,
48 – 10 = 4 tens + 8 ones – 1 ten

 

Now, subtract tens.
 

4 tens + 8 ones – 1 ten

= (4 tens – 1 ten) + 8 ones

= 3 tens + 8 ones

= 38
 

So, 48 – 10 = 38.