Subtract 14 from 17: Using Base-10 Blocks to Find Remaining Quantity

Basic Subtraction with Regrouping Base-10 Blocks

If we have 17 blocks in total and we remove 14 of those blocks, how many blocks remain? Remember you can break down a row of 10 blocks into single units.

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Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

If we have 17 blocks in total and we remove 14 of those blocks, how many blocks remain? Remember you can break down a row of 10 blocks into single units.

2

Step-by-step solution

We need to determine how many blocks are left after removing a certain number from a total.

First, let's identify the given figures:

  • Initial number of blocks: 17 17
  • Number of blocks removed: 14 14

The formula for finding out how many blocks remain is subtraction:

Remaining Blocks = Total Blocks - Blocks Removed

Substituting the given numbers into this formula:

Remaining Blocks = 1714 17 - 14

We perform the subtraction:

1714=3 17 - 14 = 3

Therefore, after removing 14 blocks from the total of 17, we find that the number of blocks remaining is 3\mathbf{3}.

3

Final Answer

3 3

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Regrouping Rule: Break down tens blocks into individual units when needed
  • Visual Method: Count remaining blocks after removing 14 from 17 total
  • Check: Add removed blocks back: 3 + 14 = 17 original amount ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Not breaking down the tens block when needed
    Don't try to subtract 14 from 17 without regrouping = impossible subtraction! You can't remove 4 units from 7 units if you don't break down the tens block first. Always convert one tens block to 10 units when you need more individual blocks.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

If we have 85 blocks in total, how many blocks will remain if we remove 4 tens and 1 one?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to break down the tens block?

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You start with 1 tens block and 7 units, but need to remove 14 blocks total. Since you can't remove 14 from just 7 units, you must break down the tens block into 10 individual units first!

How does breaking down work with base-10 blocks?

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One tens block equals 10 individual unit blocks. So 1 tens + 7 units becomes 0 tens + 17 units. Now you can easily remove 14 units!

Can I just count the blocks in the picture?

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Yes! The picture shows exactly what you're working with. Count carefully - you'll see 1 long block (representing 10) and 7 small blocks (representing units).

What if I get confused about which blocks to remove?

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Start by converting everything to individual units: 17 total units. Then remove 14 units. Count what's left - that's your answer!

How do I check if 3 is the right answer?

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Add the blocks back together: 3+14=17 3 + 14 = 17 . If you get your starting amount, your subtraction was correct!

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