Topics
2. Addition and subtraction
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Australia
Year 4

2.05 Subtraction with regrouping

Lesson
Practice
Lesson

Are you ready?

When we add numbers together, place value is really important. Do you remember how to  add numbers with three or more digits  together?

Examples

Example 1

Let's find the value of 705 + 205, by partitioning the numbers.

a

Fill in the box with the missing number.

705 = 700 + ⬚

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Put the numbers in a place value table.

Apply the idea
HundredsTensOnes
705
700

The only place where that the two numbers differ is in the units column. The first number has 5 units where as the second number has 0 units.

So we need to add 5 more to the number 700 to equal 705.

705 = 700 + 5

b

Fill in the box with the missing number.

205 = ⬚ + 5

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Put the numbers in a place value table.

Apply the idea
HundredsTensOnes
205
5

In the place value table, both 205 and 5 have 5 units but they don't match up in the tens and hundreds columns.

So we need to add 0 tens and 2 hundreds or 200 to 5 to get 205.

205 = 200 + 5

c

Find the value of 705 + 205.

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Add the partitions of the two numbers.

Apply the idea

In parts (a) and (b), we have the partitions of these two numbers:

705 = 700 + 5 \\ 205 = 200 + 5

We can use these to add the two numbers.

\displaystyle 705 + 205\displaystyle =\displaystyle 700 + 5 + 200 + 5Substitute the partitions
\displaystyle =\displaystyle 700 + 200 + 5 + 5Group the hundreds and ones
\displaystyle =\displaystyle 900 + 10Add the hundreds and ones
\displaystyle =\displaystyle 910
Idea summary

Addition by partitioning involves splitting numbers into each place value. The place values are then added separately.

Subtraction with regrouping

When we subtract, we may need to regroup, or trade, some of our numbers. This video shows how we can do that, so that we can subtract another number. Let's take a look.

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Examples

Example 2

Find the value of 355-237.

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the subtraction algorithm method.

Apply the idea

Write it in a vertical algorithm.\begin{array}{c} & & &3 &5 &5 \\ &- & &2 &3 &7 \\ \hline & \\ \hline \end{array}

Begin with the units column. We can see that 5 is less than 7, so we need to trade 1 ten from the tens place.

So we get 15-7=8 in the units column and 5 tens becomes 4 tens in the first row.\begin{array}{c} & & &3 &4 &\text{}^1 5 \\ &- & &2 &3 &7 \\ \hline & & & & &8 \\ \hline \end{array}

For the tens place: 4-3=1. \begin{array}{c} & & &3 &4 &\text{}^1 5 \\ &- & &2 &3 &7 \\ \hline & & & &1 &8 \\ \hline \end{array}

For the hundreds place: 3-2=1.

\begin{array}{c} & & &3 &4 &\text{}^1 5 \\ &- & &2 &3 &7 \\ \hline & & &1 &1 &8 \\ \hline \end{array}

So 355-137 = 118.

Idea summary

We always start from the ones place, when we work in a vertical algorithm. If we don't have enough to subtract, we can regroup from the next place to the left.

Subtract larger numbers

This time we have numbers with more digits, and the video shows how we can trade, or regroup, thousands to help us subtract in the hundreds place.

Loading video...

Examples

Example 3

Find the value of 6241-2319.

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the subtraction algorithm method.

Apply the idea

Write it in a vertical algorithm.\begin{array}{c} & & &6 &2 &4 &1 \\ &- & &2 &3 &1 &9 \\ \hline & \\ \hline \end{array}

In the units column we can see that 1 is less than 9, so we need to trade 1 ten from the tens column. This gives us 11-9=2 in the units column and 4 tens becomes 3 tens in the first row.\begin{array}{c} & & &6 &2 &3 &\text{}^1 1 \\ &- & &2 &3 &1 &9 \\ \hline & & & & & &2 \\ \hline \end{array}

For the tens column we have 3-1=2: \begin{array}{c} & & &6 &2 &3 &\text{}^1 1 \\ &- & &2 &3 &1 &9 \\ \hline & & & & &2 &2 \\ \hline \end{array}

In the hundreds column we can see that 2 is less than 3, so we need to trade 1 thousand from the thousands column. This gives us 12-3=9 and and 6 thousands becomes 5 thousands in the first row.\begin{array}{c} & & &5 &\text{}^1 2 &3 &\text{}^1 1 \\ &- & &2 &3 &1 &9 \\ \hline & & & &9 &2 &2 \\ \hline \end{array}

For the thousands column we have 5-2=3:\begin{array}{c} & & &5 &\text{}^1 2 &3 &\text{}^1 1 \\ &- & &2 &3 &1 &9 \\ \hline & & &3 &9 &2 &2 \\ \hline \end{array}

So 6241-2319=3922.

Idea summary

If we don't have enough to subtract, we can regroup from the next place to the left.

Number 416 and 121 are written in a vertical algorithm for subtraction. Ask your teacher for more information

Outcomes

ACMNA073

Apply place value to partition, rearrange and regroup numbers to at least tens of thousands to assist calculations and solve problems

ACMNA076

Develop efficient mental and written strategies and use appropriate digital technologies for multiplication and for division where there is no remainder

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