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      Explain how adjusting the minuend can make mental calculation easier

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how adjusting the minuend can make mental calculation easier.

      Key learning points

      1. If you increase the minuend the difference increases by the same amount.
      2. If you decrease the minuend the difference decreases by the same amount.
      3. Partitioning the minuend can simplify the calculation.

      Keywords

      • Minuend - The minuend is the number being subtracted from.

      • Subtrahend - A subtrahend is a number subtracted from another.

      • Adjust - When you adjust you make a change to a number. This is done to make a calculation easier to solve mentally.

      • Inverse - The inverse is the opposite or reverse operation. For example, subtraction is the inverse operation of addition.

      Common misconception

      Pupils may be eager to use columnar written methods for larger integers and decimals instead of considering the values and using an efficient strategy.

      Emphasise the importance of trying different mental methods so that pupils aren't reliant on written methods that prevent them from fully grasping the underlying structure of additive problems.

      Teacher tip

      In the second lesson cycle a pictogram is used. Consider when your pupils last interpreted a pictogram; pre-teaching this representation may lead to more success within the lesson.

      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

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      In the following equation, which number is the difference? 38 − 12 = 26

      38
      12
      Correct answer: 26

      Q2.
      Solve the following calculation mentally by adjusting the minuend and subtrahend. 157 − 32 =

      Correct Answer: 125

      Q3.
      Solve the following calculation mentally using unitisation. = 290 − 120

      Correct Answer: 170

      Q4.
      Solve the following calculation mentally by adjusting the subtrahend and then the difference. 1,050 − 902 =

      Correct Answer: 148

      Q5.
      Solve the following calculation using a mental strategy. = 211 − 97

      Correct Answer: 114

      Q6.
      7,261,000 − 11,000 =

      Correct Answer: 7,250,000

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Find the missing number in the equation below by adjusting the minuend to match the ones digit of the subtrahend. 153 − 36 =

      Correct Answer: 117

      Q2.
      Find the missing number in the equation below by adjusting the minuend to match the ones digit of the subtrahend = 269 − 46

      Correct Answer: 223

      Q3.
      Find the missing number in the equation below by adjusting the minuend to match the ones digit of the subtrahend. 2,887 − 44 =

      Correct Answer: 2,843

      Q4.
      Find the missing number in the equation below by adjusting the minuend to match the ones digit of the subtrahend. 1,567 − 59 =

      Correct Answer: 1,508

      Q5.
      Find the missing number in the equation below by adjusting the minuend. 3,084 − 0.46 =

      Correct Answer: 3083.54

      Q6.
      Find the missing number in the equation below by adjusting the minuend. = 967,000 − 35,000

      Correct Answer: 932,000

      To help you plan your 6 maths lesson on: Explain how adjusting the minuend can make mental calculation easier, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...