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Year 4

Efficiently solve subtraction problems (within a whole)

I can make efficient choices about the order when solving subtraction problems (within a whole).

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Year 4

Efficiently solve subtraction problems (within a whole)

I can make efficient choices about the order when solving subtraction problems (within a whole).

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mixed numbers can be partitioned in the same way as whole numbers.
  2. If fractions have the same denominator, they can be subtracted.
  3. To subtract fractions with the same denominator, the language of unitising can be used.

Keywords

  • Mixed number - A mixed number is a whole number and a fraction combined. For example: one and a half is a mixed number.

Common misconception

Children may subtract the incorrect parts of the mixed numbers and/or proper fractions.

What is the number that we are subtracting? If this number is a mixed number, partition it into its whole number part and fractional part.Use unitising to support subtraction.


To help you plan your year 4 maths lesson on: Efficiently solve subtraction problems (within a whole), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson is similar to lesson 1 so ensure comparisons are made between the structure used for addition and subtraction. Ensure that children have a secure understanding of the structure of mixed numbers and a good understanding of unitising is also key.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Look at this number $$9 {{1} \over {4}}$$ We say it as nine and one .
Correct Answer: quarter, fourth
Q2.
Look at the part-part-whole model. What is the missing part?
An image in a quiz
2
7
$$ {2} \over {7}$$
$$ {7} \over {2}$$
Correct answer: 8
Q3.
Which fraction shows how much of the bar has been shaded grey?
An image in a quiz
$$ {2} \over {4}$$
$$ {4} \over {2}$$
$$ {2} \over {6}$$
Correct answer: $$ {4} \over {6}$$
Q4.
Match the equations to their sum.
Correct Answer:$$ {1} \over {4}$$ =,$$ {3} \over {4}$$ − $$ {2} \over {4}$$
tick

$$ {3} \over {4}$$ − $$ {2} \over {4}$$

Correct Answer:$$ {2} \over {6}$$ =,$$ {5} \over {6}$$ − $$ {3} \over {6}$$
tick

$$ {5} \over {6}$$ − $$ {3} \over {6}$$

Correct Answer:$$ {6} \over {10}$$ =,$$ {9} \over {10}$$ − $$ {3} \over {10}$$
tick

$$ {9} \over {10}$$ − $$ {3} \over {10}$$

Correct Answer:$$ {1} \over {8}$$ =,$$ {3} \over {8}$$ − $$ {2} \over {8}$$
tick

$$ {3} \over {8}$$ − $$ {2} \over {8}$$

Q5.
5 + $$ {2} \over {8}$$ + $$1{{3} \over {8}}$$ + $$ {2} \over {8}$$ = ?
$$ {13} \over {8}$$
$$5{{8} \over {8}}$$
$$5{{5} \over {27}}$$
Correct answer: $$6{{7} \over {8}}$$
Q6.
$$4{{3} \over {8}}$$ + $$2{{4} \over {8}}$$ = ?
$$6{{7} \over {16}}$$
$$ {13} \over {16}$$
$$ {13} \over {8}$$
Correct answer: $$6{{7} \over {8}}$$

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Calculate: $$1{{4} \over {5}}$$ − $$ {2} \over {5}$$ = ?
$$ {2} \over {5}$$
$$1{{6} \over {10}}$$
Correct answer: $$1{{2} \over {5}}$$
$$1{{6} \over {5}}$$
Q2.
Match the equations to their difference.
Correct Answer:$$1{{3} \over {5}}$$ =,$$1{{4} \over {5}}$$ − $$ {1} \over {5}$$
tick

$$1{{4} \over {5}}$$ − $$ {1} \over {5}$$

Correct Answer:$$2{{2} \over {8}}$$ =,$$2{{6} \over {8}}$$ − $$ {4} \over {8}$$
tick

$$2{{6} \over {8}}$$ − $$ {4} \over {8}$$

Correct Answer:$$4{{4} \over {8}}$$ =,$$4{{7} \over {8}}$$ − $$ {3} \over {8}$$
tick

$$4{{7} \over {8}}$$ − $$ {3} \over {8}$$

Correct Answer:$$2{{1} \over {8}}$$ =,$$2{{4} \over {8}}$$ − $$ {3} \over {8}$$
tick

$$2{{4} \over {8}}$$ − $$ {3} \over {8}$$

Q3.
$$1{{5} \over {7}}$$ − ___ = $$1{{2} \over {7}}$$
$$ {7} \over {3}$$
$$ {1} \over {7}$$
Correct answer: $$ {3} \over {7}$$
$$2{{7} \over {7}}$$
Q4.
What is the missing number? $$4{{5} \over {8}}$$ − = $$ {5} \over {8}$$
Correct Answer: 4
Q5.
$$5{{7} \over {10}}$$ − $$2{{4} \over {10}}$$ = ?
$$5{{3} \over {10}}$$
$$ {10} \over {3}$$
Correct answer: $$3{{3} \over {10}}$$
$$3{{10} \over {2}}$$
$$5{{3} \over {7}}$$
Q6.
Jacob has three and one-fifth metres of rope. Sofia has five and four-fifths metres of rope. How much more rope does Sofia have?
$$2{{3} \over {10}}$$
Correct answer: $$2{{3} \over {5}}$$
$$2{{5} \over {3}}$$
$$8{{5} \over {5}}$$