Need to explain the concept of subtraction with borrowing to a 7 year old. ?

Question

The problem is 1492- 2008. I require a simple explanation that a 7 year old will comprehend. I have tried to explain the concept of borrowing however; he just doesn’t seem to understand. Any help will be appreciated.

Answer 1

"ur dad/grandma/uncle was born in 1492. its 2008... HOW OLD IS HE/SHEEE????

((RILI OLD!! :D))

Answer 2

Start with something simpler, like 21 - 5.  Use 2 dimes to make the 20 and a penny to make 1 for 21.  Then, show how you can't take away 5 pennies from 1, so you will have to "trade" one of the dimes in for 10 pennies.  Put one dime away and take out 10 more pennies, placing them with the one penny already on the table.  Now, you will be able to take away 5 and calculate the result.  Once he understands the concept with a physical representation, it may be easier to make the leap to doing the "borrowing" on paper.  Good luck!

Answer 3

They don't call it borrowing any more.  You don't pay it back, after all!  They call it "regrouping".  You regroup one of the 9 tens (leaving 8) into 10 ones in the ones place.  Basically, they do the same thing you were taught, but he may be more familiar with that vocabulary.

This site shows you how, and has some practice examples:

http://www.myschoolhouse.com/courses/O/1...

This site has a rhyme to help:

http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/Ma...

If he still doesn't get it, you may need to go back a step or two.  Does he know that 92 is 9 tens and 2 ones?  Does he understand place value?  If not, you may need to do some work with him on that and help him to understand simpler problems, like just the 92 - 8, without the rest.