Adding & subtracting two 2-digit numbers
In this topic you will
- Add two $2$-digit numbers.
- Subtract a $2$-digit number from another $2$-digit number.
- Find the difference between two $2$-digit numbers.
Key Words
- swap
- total
Show Definitions
- swap: To change the order of two numbers or objects, so the first becomes the second and the second becomes the first.
- total: The whole amount altogether, usually found by adding parts together.
You will add or subtract numbers almost every day for lots of reasons. This unit helps you to add and subtract tens and ones in the same calculation.
EXERCISES
Exercise $1.11$
$1$. Add two $2$-digit numbers.
Use some objects on the place value grid to help you calculate.
a. $21 + 47$
b. $35 + 62$
c. $54 + 32$
d. $64 + 25$
e. $71 + 16$
f. $46 + 32$

👀 Show answer
a.$21 + 47 = 68$
b.$35 + 62 = 97$
c.$54 + 32 = 86$
d.$64 + 25 = 89$
e.$71 + 16 = 87$
f.$46 + 32 = 78$
EXERCISES
$2$. Solve each number sentence. Show your steps.
a. $58 - 35$

b. $76 - 41$

c. $67 - 26$

👀 Show answer
a.$58 - 35$
$58 = 50 + 8$, $35 = 30 + 5$
$50 - 30 = 20$, $8 - 5 = 3$, so $20 + 3 = 23$.
b.$76 - 41$
$76 = 70 + 6$, $41 = 40 + 1$
$70 - 40 = 30$, $6 - 1 = 5$, so $30 + 5 = 35$.
c.$67 - 26$
$67 = 60 + 7$, $26 = 20 + 6$
$60 - 20 = 40$, $7 - 6 = 1$, so $40 + 1 = 41$.
$3$. Complete each subtraction.
Use some objects on the place value grid to help you calculate.
a. $89 - 52$
b. $56 - 44$
c. $78 - 36$
d. $67 - 24$

👀 Show answer
a.$89 - 52 = 37$
b.$56 - 44 = 12$
c.$78 - 36 = 42$
d.$67 - 24 = 43$
$4$. Use the $100$ square to help you add or subtract to find the missing numbers.
a. $34 + 21 =$ ________
b. $87 - 43 =$ ________
c. $69 - 35 =$ ________
d. $47 + 32 =$ ________

👀 Show answer
a.$34 + 21 = 55$
b.$87 - 43 = 44$
c.$69 - 35 = 34$
d.$47 + 32 = 79$
$5$.
a. Subtract a number in the second cloud from a number in the first cloud.
Write your number sentence.
Which method will you use?
Do this $3$ times.
b. Which calculation will give you the greatest answer?
c. Which calculation will give you the smallest answer?

👀 Show answer
a. Example answers (any $3$ correct number sentences are fine):
- $79 - 25 = 54$
- $68 - 32 = 36$
- $87 - 11 = 76$
A good method is to split into tens and ones (for example $79 = 70 + 9$ and $25 = 20 + 5$) and subtract tens, then ones.
b. Use the largest number from the first cloud and the smallest from the second cloud:
$87 - 11 = 76$ (greatest answer).
c. Use the smallest number from the first cloud and the largest from the second cloud:
$56 - 43 = 13$ (smallest answer).
Think like a Mathematician
Choose a number from the grid.
Swap the digits in the number to make a new number.
Add the two numbers together.
For example: $35 + 53 = 88$.
What do you notice? Can you explain why this happens? Discuss what you notice with your partner or in a small group.

Show Answers
- What do you notice? When you swap the digits and add, the total is always a multiple of $11$. For example: $14 + 41 = 55$, $26 + 62 = 88$, $36 + 63 = 99$.
- Why does this happen? Let the number be $10a + b$ (tens digit $a$, ones digit $b$). Swapping gives $10b + a$. Adding: $(10a + b) + (10b + a) = 11a + 11b = 11(a + b)$, which is always a multiple of $11$.
- Discussion (solo version): Try at least $3$ different numbers from the grid and record your totals. Write one sentence explaining the pattern you found.
EXERCISES
$6$. Sofia made some mistakes when she wrote these number facts.
Tick those that are correct.
Correct any that are not equivalent in value.
$24 + 35 = 22 + 36$
$45 + 54 = 44 + 55$
$67 - 23 = 68 - 25$
$56 - 35 = 58 - 37$
👀 Show answer
Correct:$45 + 54 = 44 + 55$ and $56 - 35 = 58 - 37$.
Not correct:$24 + 35 = 22 + 36$ and $67 - 23 = 68 - 25$.
One way to correct them:
- $24 + 35 = 23 + 36$
- $67 - 23 = 68 - 24$
$7$. Find the difference between each pair of numbers.
Write the number sentence.
Use a number line or a $100$ square to help you.



👀 Show answer
$49 - 32 = 17$
$87 - 65 = 22$
$68 - 54 = 14$
$8$. The difference between two numbers is $14$.
If one of the numbers is $45$, what could the other number be?
Did you get the same answer as your partner?
Is there more than one possible answer?
👀 Show answer
Two possible answers are:
- $45 - 14 = 31$
- $45 + 14 = 59$
Yes, there is more than one possible answer.
