Question 9
Whenever Jasoda has to subtract 9 from a number, she subtracts 10 and adds 1 to it. For example, .
(a) Do you think she always gets the correct answer? Why?
(b) Can you think of other similar strategies? Give some examples.
We will check if Jasoda's method of subtracting 10 and adding 1 is the same as subtracting 9.
Step 1 — Checking Jasoda's Method
Jasoda wants to subtract 9 from a number. Her method is to subtract 10 and then add 1. Let us use the example given: .
First, let us calculate directly.
Now, let us use Jasoda's method for . She subtracts 10 from 36. Then, she adds 1 to this result.
Both methods give the same answer.

Step 2 — Explaining Why It Works
Let us use a variable for any number. Let the number be . We want to calculate .
Jasoda's method is to calculate . Let us look at the operations she performs. She subtracts 10, which is . Then she adds 1, which is . The combined effect of these two operations is . So, subtracting 10 and then adding 1 is exactly the same as subtracting 9. This means that will always give the same result as . Therefore, Jasoda will always get the correct answer.
Step 3 — Finding Other Similar Strategies
We can use this idea for other subtractions or additions. The main idea is to use a nearby round number. Then we adjust the result by adding or subtracting a small number.
Example 1: Subtracting 8 To subtract 8 from a number, we can subtract 10 and then add 2. This is because . Let us try . Direct calculation: . Using the strategy: .
Example 2: Adding 9 To add 9 to a number, we can add 10 and then subtract 1. This is because . Let us try . Direct calculation: . Using the strategy: .
Example 3: Subtracting 19 To subtract 19 from a number, we can subtract 20 and then add 1. This is because . Let us try . Direct calculation: . Using the strategy: .
Example 4: Adding 18 To add 18 to a number, we can add 20 and then subtract 2. This is because . Let us try . Direct calculation: . Using the strategy: .
Answer
(a) Yes, she will always get the correct answer because subtracting 10 and then adding 1 is mathematically the same as subtracting 9. (b) Other similar strategies include: To subtract 8, subtract 10 and add 2. (e.g., ) To add 9, add 10 and subtract 1. (e.g., ) To subtract 19, subtract 20 and add 1. (e.g., )
More questions in FIO
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
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(a)
(b)
(c)
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(a)
(b)
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Whenever Jasoda has to subtract 9 from a number, she subtracts 10 and adds 1 to it. For example, .
(a) Do you think she always gets the correct answer? Why?
(b) Can you think of other similar strategies? Give some examples.
Consider the two expressions: a) , b) . For each of these expressions, identify the expressions from the following collection that are equal to it.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Figure it Out
- Fill in the blanks with numbers, and boxes by signs, so that the expressions on both sides are equal.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)
In the boxes below, fill '<', '>' or '=' after analysing the expressions on the LHS and RHS. Use reasoning and understanding of terms and brackets to figure this out and not by evaluating the expressions.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Here is one way to make 14: . Are there other ways of getting 14? Fill them out below:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Find out the sum of the numbers given in each picture below in at least two different ways. Describe how you solved it through expressions.
Read the situations given below. Write appropriate expressions for each of them and find their values.
(a) The district market in Begur operates on all seven days of a week. Rahim supplies 9 kg of mangoes each day from his orchard and Shyam supplies 11 kg of mangoes each day from his orchard to this market. Find the amount of mangoes supplied by them in a week to the local district market.
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(c) During the daytime a snail climbs 3 cm up a post, and during the night while asleep, accidentally slips down by 2 cm. The post is 10 cm high, and a delicious treat is on its top. In how many days will the snail get the treat?
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(a) 5 × 2 × 8
(b) (7 - 2) × 8
(c) 8 × 7
(d) 7 × 2 × 8
(e) 7 × 5 - 2
(f) (7 + 2) × 8
(g) 7 × 8 - 2 × 8
(h) (7 - 5) × 8
Find different ways of evaluating the following expressions:
(a) 1 - 2 + 3 - 4 + 5 - 6 + 7 - 8 + 9 - 10
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Identify which of the following expressions are equal to the given expression without computation. You may rewrite the expressions using terms or removing brackets. There can be more than one expression which is equal to the given expression.
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Choose a number and create ten different expressions having that value.