Howstuffworks "Subtraction - Encyclopedia Entry"

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Subtraction

Subtraction is a way of taking away a number of things from a larger number. You take them away to find how many things are left. Only like things can be subtracted. That is, you cannot subtract apples from pencils.

Suppose you have a set of 8 oranges.

Suppose you want to take away a set of 5 oranges.

You find that you have 3 oranges left.

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