Visualizing Subtraction from 14 Using Place Value

Khan Academy

This educational math video provides a step-by-step visual demonstration of subtraction using the number 14 as a starting point. Through three distinct examples—14 minus 2, 14 minus 4, and 14 minus 6—the narrator illustrates how subtraction interacts with place value. The video uses digital manipulatives (drawings of objects) to physically represent numbers, allowing students to see exactly what happens when quantities are removed. Key themes include understanding place value (tens and ones), decomposing numbers, and visual strategies for subtraction. The video progresses in difficulty: first subtracting a number smaller than the ones digit, then subtracting the exact ones digit to result in 10, and finally subtracting a number larger than the ones digit, which requires breaking into the "group of ten." For educators, this video is an excellent tool for transitioning students from simple counting to more conceptual arithmetic. It visually reinforces why 14 is composed of "one ten and four ones" and introduces the concept of regrouping or "borrowing" in a concrete, intuitive way before introducing the abstract algorithm. It is particularly useful for visual learners struggling with mental math strategies.