New
New
Year 3

Develop understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction

I can understand the relationship between addition and subtraction.

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New
New
Year 3

Develop understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction

I can understand the relationship between addition and subtraction.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Equations can be represented using part-part-whole or bar models
  2. The sum in an addition and the minuend in a subtraction both represent the whole
  3. The addends in an addition and the subtrahend and difference in a subtraction both represent parts

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 find it more difficult to understand equations that start with the whole (e.g. 20 = 50 - 30)

Emphasise the need for balance in equations. To be equal, both sides must have the same value.


To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Develop understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Base ten blocks may be helpful in representing parts and combining them to make a whole. Bar models will help pupils represent equations and understand the relationship between parts and the whole.
Teacher tip

Licence

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

6 Questions

Q1.
Which numbers in the equation are addends? 28 + 26 = 54
54
Correct answer: 28
Correct answer: 26
Q2.
What number is the sum in this equation? 76 = 60 + 16
Correct Answer: 76, seventy-six
Q3.
What sum is missing from this bar model?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 55, fifty five
Q4.
Match the sum and the addends.
Correct Answer:70 + 30 =,100

100

Correct Answer:73 + 20 =,93

93

Correct Answer:30 + 30 =,60

60

Correct Answer:70 + 70 =,140

140

Q5.
Which other addition equations match this calculation? 150 + 70 = 220
Correct answer: 70 + 150 = 220
Correct answer: 220 = 70 + 150
220 − 70 = 150
Correct answer: 220 = 150 + 70
Q6.
Which equations have a sum of 200?
Correct answer: 100 + 100 =
150 + 60 =
110 + 110 =
Correct answer: 125 + 75 =

6 Questions

Q1.
What number is the subtrahend in this equation? 36 − 16 = 20
36
20
Correct answer: 16
Q2.
Match the names to the numbers in this equation: 125 − 50 = 75
Correct Answer:subtrahend,50

50

Correct Answer:difference,75

75

Correct Answer:minuend,125

125

Q3.
What number is missing from the bar model?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 290, two hundred and ninety
Q4.
Match the addition and subtraction equations by looking for the same whole and the same parts.
Correct Answer:60 + 90 = 150,150 − 60 = 90

150 − 60 = 90

Correct Answer:130 = 90 + 40,90 = 130 − 40

90 = 130 − 40

Correct Answer:80 + 50 = 130,130 − 80 = 50

130 − 80 = 50

Correct Answer:150 = 80 + 70,80 = 150 − 70

80 = 150 − 70

Q5.
Which equations are represented by the bar model?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 50 + 54 = 104
Correct answer: 104 − 54 = 50
104 = 52 + 52
Correct answer: 54 = 104 − 50
Q6.
Which equations could be represented by this bar model?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 120 = 250 − 130
250 + 20 = 270
250 = 350 − 100
Correct answer: 250 = 110 + 140
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