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Year 4

Decide on the most efficient subtraction strategy, including column subtraction

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

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New
New
Year 4

Decide on the most efficient subtraction strategy, including column subtraction

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Look carefully at the numbers in a calculation.
  2. Column subtraction might be the most efficient method to use if regrouping is needed.
  3. 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.


To help you plan your year 4 maths lesson on: Decide on the most efficient subtraction strategy, including column subtraction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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.
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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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6 Questions

Q1.
Where is regrouping needed in this column subtraction?
An image in a quiz
Regrouping is needed in the ones.
Regrouping is needed in the tens.
Regrouping is needed in the ones and tens.
Correct answer: Regrouping is not needed.
Q2.
Where is regrouping needed in this column subtraction?
An image in a quiz
Regrouping is needed in the ones.
Regrouping is needed in the tens.
Correct answer: Regrouping is needed in the ones and tens.
Regrouping is not needed.
Q3.
Complete the column subtraction. What is the difference between the two numbers?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 172
Q4.
Calculate the difference using column subtraction.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 433
Q5.
Calculate the difference using column subtraction.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 193
Q6.
Calculate the difference using column subtraction.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 325

6 Questions

Q1.
Which calculations would it be most efficient to answer using a mental strategy?
Correct answer: 368 − 99 =
671 − 356 =
Correct answer: 292 − 288 =
255 − 168 =
Q2.
Which calculations would it be most efficient to answer using column subtraction?
476 − 376 =
Correct answer: 444 − 278 =
Correct answer: 331 − 165 =
557 − 555 =
Q3.
What is the most efficient way to calculate 368 − 99 =?
Start at 99 and count on to 368
Use column subtraction
Correct answer: Subtract 100 then add 1
Subtract 100 then subtract 1
Q4.
What is the difference between 292 and 288?
Correct Answer: 4, four
Q5.
Evie and baby Elias have a total length of 605 cm. If baby Elias has a length of 205 cm, how long is Evie? Evie is cm long.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 400, 400 cm, 400cm
Q6.
Elodie and baby Emily have a total length of 611 cm. If Elodie has a length of 437 cm, how long is baby Emily? Emily is cm long.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 174, 174 cm, 174cm

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