--- title: "Off the Number Line: Spare a Ten" description: Regrouping when subtracting multi-digit numbers made fun with this math cartoon. image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Education/Archive/Off_the_Number_Line.jpg --- [![](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MIND-logo-2018.jpg?width=1701&height=623&name=MIND-logo-2018.jpg)](http://www.mindresearch.org/) [![mind logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-color2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) [![mind white logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-white2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) - [Our Approach](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-approach) - [Why MIND?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/why-math-education) - [Our Research](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-research) - [Our Patents](https://2024.mindresearch.org/patents) - [Our Impact](https://2024.mindresearch.org/impact) - [Our Partners](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partners) - [Partner Stories](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partner-stories) - Our Programs - [ST Math](http://www.stmath.com/) - [InsightMath](http://www.insightmath.com/) - [MathMINDs](https://www.mindresearch.org/mathminds) - [Life at MIND](https://2024.mindresearch.org/careers) - Resources - [Blog](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog) - [Math Discourse](https://2024.mindresearch.org/puzzletalks) - [Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) - [News](https://2024.mindresearch.org/news) - [Activities](https://2024.mindresearch.org/stem-resources) - [Donate](https://store.mindresearch.org/pages/donate) **Student privacy****:** learn more about our commitment to keeping students safe [Read More](https://www.mindresearch.org/privacy-policy) ![MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/graphics/headers/_blog-headers/MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png?width=2000&height=667&name=MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png "MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5") Category Community Teaching & Learning Technology & Games Research & Outcomes Neuroscience Celebrations & Successes [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70) [Mathematics](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/mathematics) # Off the Number Line: Spare a Ten By [Matthew Peterson and James Huang](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/matthew-peterson-and-james-huang) - - - - - [mailto:?subject=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Spare%20a%20Ten&body=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Spare%20a%20Ten%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/off-the-number-line-spare-a-ten](mailto:?subject=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Spare%20a%20Ten&body=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Spare%20a%20Ten%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/off-the-number-line-spare-a-ten) - **![subtraction funny math cartoon](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Photos/OTNL_spare_a_ten_11-05-15.jpg?width=650&height=650&name=OTNL_spare_a_ten_11-05-15.jpg "subtraction funny math cartoon")** **Interviewer:** Ha! I get this one! This is a lot less esoteric than some of your other cartoons. I was recently reading an article about how math humor can be useful in the classroom. I could see using this with students when teaching multi-digit subtraction. **Cartoonist:** When using with students, it might be good to ask them to explain why the 7 is asking the 5 for a “10.” Note that it’s better to position this as regrouping instead of “borrowing”. In other words, we want students to see 5 tens and 7 ones being equivalent to 4 tens and 17 ones. A cartoon like this can definitely be a good conversation starter. **Interviewer:** Good tips. Looking forward to more math conversation starters in next week’s [Off the Number Line](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/off-the-number-line) cartoon! *Check out how these 5 educators are using [math cartoons in the classroom](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/math-cartoons-in-the-classroom) to engage their students.* ![Matthew Peterson and James Huang](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Authors/MIND-profile-600x600.png) ### About the Author Matthew Peterson, Ph.D., is Co-founder and Chief Research & Development Officer at the MIND Research Institute. James Huang is Senior Visual Designer at MIND Research Institute. ### Comment #### [Math Cartoons in the Classroom: Lesson Ideas & Tips from 5 Educators](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/math-cartoons-in-the-classroom) [Data Teams Embedding ST Math to Strengthen Math Instruction](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/data-teams-embedding-st-math-to-strengthen-math-instruction) ### Search Result By: ![feature image](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Images/Inside-our-Minds-logo-teal-800x800.png) [Featured Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/featured-podcast) ### [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) [Listen Now](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) ##### LATEST PODCAST EPISODES ###### BY MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE - [Rethinking Attendance in Edtech](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/rethinking-attendance-in-edtech) - [People, Process, and Penguins: Designing Math Experiences](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/people-process-penguins) - [Bridging STEM Gaps with STEMconnector CEO Jo Webber](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/bridging-stem-gaps-with-stemconnector-ceo-jo-webber) - [The EdTech Genome Project: Talking Implementation with Elizabeth Birie](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/edtech-genome-project) - [From Meeting the Moment to Foundational Change](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/from-meeting-the-moment-to-foundational-change) ##### [See all podcasts](https://www.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) ## Interested in Contributing? 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