The purpose of this activity is for students to find the value of various decimal differences. Most of the numbers do not have the same number of decimal digits so students need to subtract carefully if they make vertical calculations, making sure to align place values correctly (MP6). Students may use the standard algorithm or they may choose a different technique. Some of the differences are designed to bring out other techniques such as adding on or compensation.

• Display expression:
• “How did you find the value of the difference?” (I used the standard algorithm. I first took the 6 from 100 and then the 0.03 from 0.8.)
• Display expression:
• “How did you find the value of this difference?” (I used the standard algorithm. I added on to 463.14 since they are so close.)
• “How are the different strategies you used to subtract the same? How are they different?” (They all use the right place value for each digit. The standard algorithm starts from the smallest place value and then breaks up larger place values when needed. The other strategies subtract an amount that you can do mentally or use addition.)

The purpose of this activity is to find sums and differences of decimals using any method. The variety of problems encourages different strategies including:

• Adding or subtracting by place value.
• Using the standard algorithm.
• Adding on in order to calculate a difference.

The goal of the Activity Synthesis is to discuss how students decided which strategies to use to find the values of the different expressions. As students discuss and justify their decisions, they share a mathematical claim and the thinking behind it (MP3).
 

• Invite students to share how they found the value of the expression .
• “Why is subtracting by place value a good strategy for this expression?” (I can take 4 from 6 and 3 tenths from 5 tenths. That gives me 32.21.)
• “Does the standard algorithm also work?” (Yes, you subtract ones from ones and tenths from tenths.)
• Display image of calculation of with the standard algorithm from a student solution.
• Invite students to share how they found the value of the expression .
• “Did anyone use the standard algorithm?” (I tried but there was a lot of borrowing so I decided to use a different strategy.)
• Display image of calculation of with the standard algorithm from a student solution.
• “The standard algorithm always works to find sums and differences but sometimes the numbers make other methods more efficient.”

The purpose of this activity is for students to find the value of subtraction expressions using a strategy of their choice. The standard algorithm which students learned in a previous activity will always work to successfully calculate a difference but some of the problems are deliberately chosen to encourage other techniques such as adding on or compensation.  If students choose to use the standard algorithm to calculate the differences, they will need to pay close attention to place value as several of the differences have one decimal with only tenths while the other has hundredths (MP6).

• Display expression
• “What estimate would you make for the value of this expression?” (about 20, about 25)
• Invite students to share their strategies and solutions.
• “Why did you use the standard algorithm?” (The numbers are complicated so I can't see what the difference is.)
• “Did your solution make sense, based on your estimate?” (Yes, it is between 24 and 25.)
• Display expression:
• Invite students to share their strategies and solutions.
• “Can you find this difference mentally? How?” (Yes, I can add 0.3 to 260.7 and that gives me 261. Then I need 0.25 more. That's 5 tenths and 5 hundredths so 0.55.)