Decide on the most efficient subtraction strategy, including column subtraction

I can make efficient use of subtraction strategies, including column subtraction.

Download all resources

Share activities with pupils

New

Year 4

Decide on the most efficient subtraction strategy, including column subtraction

I can make efficient use of subtraction strategies, including column subtraction.

Download all resources

Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

View new resources

Slide deck

Download slide deck

Skip slide deck

Lesson details

Key learning points

Look carefully at the numbers in a calculation.
Column subtraction might be the most efficient method to use if regrouping is needed.
Use a mental strategy where it would be more efficient.

Keywords

Efficient - Being efficient means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.
Mental strategy - A mental strategy is a method chosen to find something out which can be done in your head or with some jottings.
Regroup - The process of unitising and exchanging between place values is known as regrouping.

Common misconception

When using adjustment (e.g. 456 − 199), pupils may forget whether they have to subtract or add 1 after they have subtracted 200

Ask pupils if they subtract 200 then subtract 1 more, how much have they subtracted altogether? They should see that they have subtracted 201, not 199 A number line representation will support pupil's understanding with this.

Pupils will benefit from opportunities to discuss the strategies that they would use to answer questions. Task A would work well if pupils have a partner to work with.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).