Subtraction means taking away or finding the difference between numbers. The symbol for subtraction is minus. We use place value to subtract by breaking numbers into tens and ones. For example, in 16 minus 5, we break 16 into 10 and 6, then subtract. Mental strategies like breaking numbers help us subtract quickly. We learn to subtract one-digit from one-digit, one-digit from two-digit, and two-digit from two-digit numbers. Subtraction is also used in real life, like finding how many items are left after giving some away. Subtracting zero keeps the number the same. Practice and word problems help understand subtraction better.