New
New
Year 6

Solving calculations efficiently

I can explain how to solve calculations efficiently.

New
New
Year 6

Solving calculations efficiently

I can explain how to solve calculations efficiently.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Fluent calculation requires flexibility to move between mental and written methods and supports us to be efficient.
  2. Looking at the numbers within a calculation supports us to know whether to use a mental strategy or written method.
  3. Mental strategies work best when known facts are used.
  4. Written methods work best when the numbers given are precise or when exchanging is involved.

Keywords

  • Efficient - Being efficient means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.

  • Precise - Being precise is being exact. In this case, it is when numbers are given as exact values and are not rounded.

Common misconception

Children may automatically use a formal written algorithm. Children may not see the difference between, 'How much more?' and 'How many times more?'

What do you notice about the numbers? Is there a more efficient way? Can you represent this in a bar model or form an equation. What do you notice about the language?

This lesson needs children to really notice the numbers in a calculation. Use the question, 'What do you notice?' to get the children to think deeply and reason about the calculations.
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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Look at this table. What is the average mass of a blue whale?
An image in a quiz
1,400 kg
4,000 kg
30,000 kg
40,000 kg
Correct answer: 140,000 kg
Q2.
Using this equation, what else can you determine? 300 + 450 = 750
Correct answer: 750 − 300
Correct answer: 750 − 450
750 + 300
750 + 450
Correct answer: 450 + 300
Q3.
Complete the missing value: 145,000 = 100,000 + + 5,000
Correct Answer: 40,000, 40000
Q4.
Match the factors to their product.
Correct Answer:12 × 10 = ,120

120

Correct Answer:102 × 100 = ,10,200

10,200

Correct Answer:103 × 10 = ,1,030

1,030

Correct Answer:13 × 10 = ,130

130

Correct Answer:13 × 100 = ,1,300

1,300

Q5.
Lucas wins 5,000 points in a game. Aisha wins 2,500 points in the same game. How many more points does Lucas win? points
Correct Answer: 2,500, 2500
Q6.
Aisha wins 24,506 points in a game and Lucas wins 913 points. How many points do they win in total? points
Correct Answer: 25,419

6 Questions

Q1.
Written methods are often most efficient to use to solve problems when the numbers __________.
are large
are small
Correct answer: are precise
are rounded
Correct answer: need regrouping
Q2.
Mental strategies methods are often most efficient to use to solve problems when the numbers __________.
are large
are small
are precise
Correct answer: are rounded
need regrouping
Q3.
Look at the table. How much taller is Mount Everest than K2? m
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 500, 500m
Q4.
Look at the table. What is the combined height of Scafell Pike, Table and Ben Nevis? m
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 3,400, 3,400 m
Q5.
Look at the table showing distances to some cities from London. How much further is it to New York than Paris? m
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 5,227,720, 5227720
Q6.
Look at the table showing distances to some cities from London. Lucas’ dad flies to New Delhi and his mum flies to Oslo. What is the combined distance that they flew? m
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 8,525,380, 8525380