Subtracting 9s shortcut Add the digits of the larger number 10 - 9 = 1 + 0 = 1 11 - 9 = 1 + 1 = 2 12 - 9 = 1 + 2 = 3 13 - 9 = 1 + 3 = 4 14 - 9 = 1 + 4= 5 15 - 9=. 1 + 5 = 6 16 - 9 = 1 + 6= 7 17 - 9= 1 + 7 = 8 18 - 9 = 1 + 8 = 9 19 - 9 = 1 + 9 = 10