Task Analysis for Solving a Two-Digit Subtraction Problem

Goal: Student will be able to independently solve a two-digit subtraction problem 85% of the
time using the task analysis as a guide four out of five days of the school week.

Instructional Cue: “Solve the problem”

Line numbers up.

Number you start
with goes on the top.
Numbers you take
away go on the
bottom

Look at the column on

the right. Is the top
number bigger than
the bottom number?

Yes No

Borrow from the left

column.

Take one group of ten

away from the left
column and add it to
the right column.

Subtract the
numbers
 Write the answer
below the line.

Look at the left

column. Is the
number on top bigger
than the number on
the bottom?

Yes No

Go back and check

your work.
Subtract the two
numbers

Is the number on the

Write the number top bigger than on
below the line the bottom now?

Yes No
Circle Answer

Subtract the two Problem has no

numbers solution

Write the number

below the line

Circle Answer
Data Collection Key: I= Independent V= Visual Prompt M=Model Prompt P=Physical Prompt

Date

Task Analysis #1 #2 #3 #4 #5

Line numbers
up. Number
you start with
goes on the
top. Numbers
you take away
go on the
bottom

Look at the
column on
the right. Is
the top
number
bigger than
the bottom
number?

Yes

Subtract the
two numbers

Write the
number
below the
line

If no
Borrow from
the left
column

Take one
group of ten
away from
the left
column and
add it to the
right column.

Subtract the
numbers

Write
number
below the
line

Look at the
left column

Is the
number on
the top
bigger than
the number
on the
bottom?
Yes

Subtract the
two numbers
Write answer
below the
line

Circle answer

If no

Go back and
check your
work

Is the
number
bigger now?

Yes

Subtract the
two numbers

Write
number
below the
line

Circle answer

If no,
problem has
no solution