Review identifying the minuend and subtrahend in column subtraction

I can identify the minuend and subtrahend in column subtraction.

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Year 4

Review identifying the minuend and subtrahend in column subtraction

I can identify the minuend and subtrahend in column subtraction.

Download all resources

Share activities with pupils

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Lesson details

Key learning points

The minuend and subtrahend are written in columns with the same value digits in the same column.
The subtrahend is written beneath the minuend.
The difference is recorded beneath the subtrahend.

Keywords

Minuend - The minuend is the number being subtracted from.
Subtrahend - A subtrahend is a number subtracted from another.
Difference - The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another.

Common misconception

Pupils may confuse column subtraction and column addition, and forget where the whole appears in both.

Emphasise starting with the whole. The minuend appears first in column subtraction. One part (the subtrahend) is subtracted and the difference appears beneath this.

Use column subtraction alongside representations that the pupils are familiar with, including Base 10 blocks, bar models and part-part-whole models. Give pupils opportunities to manipulate the parts, understanding that the subtrahend and difference can be moved around.

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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).