Subtract more than 4-digit numbers - KS2 Maths

What is column subtraction?

Lucy pointing to a white board with a subtraction sum on it and columns thousands, hundreds, tens and ones. The sum is 3476 − 1342 = 2134

When you subtract using large numbers, it's often better to use a written method.

Column subtraction is a good written method to take one number away from another. It involves writing the smaller number beneath the larger, so that the digits line up for each place value.

You then subtract the digits, starting from the ones column on the right-hand side.

First subtract the ones, then the tens, then the hundreds, then the thousands.

Quiz: Subtracting with 4 digits or more

Complete this quiz to better understand how to subtract with 4 digits or more.

Subtraction with exchange

When you use the column method to subtract two numbers, the larger number goes above the smaller number. You then subtract digits from each column, starting with the ones.

Sometimes a digit from the second number is larger than the digit in the first number. This means it cannot be directly subtracted. You need to exchange a digit from the next column and rename.

Remember, 10 ones is equivalent to 1 ten, 10 tens is equivalent to 1 hundred and 10 hundreds is equivalent to 1 thousand. You need to understand and use this when you exchange and rename numbers when needed.

Take a look at how to work out this subtraction:

4328 − 1436 = ?

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Start with the ones column and subtract the two numbers. 8 − 6 = 2
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Move on to the tens column. You need to exchange from the hundreds column, since you cannot subtract 3 tens from 2 tens. Once you have exchanged, you now have 12 tens take away 3 tens. 12 − 3 = 9
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Now move onto the hundreds column. You need to exchange again from the thousands column and rename the hundreds. The subtraction becomes 12 hundreds take away 4 hundreds. 12 − 4 = 8
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Finally, subtract in the thousands column. 3 thousand take away 1 thousand. 3 − 1 = 2. Then you have your final answer. 4328 − 1436 = 2892

Subtraction with larger numbers

If you can subtract two 4-digit numbers from each other, then you can use the same method to subtract using larger numbers.

You use the same method no matter how many digits are in the numbers.

Take a look at how to work out this subtraction:

12328 − 3167 = ?

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Start from the ones column. 8 − 7 = 1
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Move on to the tens column. You need to exchange a hundred from three hundred, since you cannot subtract 6 tens from 2 tens. Once you have exchanged, you now have 12 tens take away 6 tens. 120 − 60 = 60
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Now move onto the hundreds column. The subtraction is 2 hundreds take away 1 hundred. 200 − 100 = 100
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In the thousands column, you cannot subtract 3 thousands from 2 thousands. You need to exchange again from the tens of thousands column. The subtraction becomes 12 thousands take away 3 thousands. 12,000 − 3,000 = 9,000
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Then you have your final answer. 12328 − 3167 = 9161