KS2

Subtraction with up to 4-digit numbers

Part of MathsAdding and subtractingYear 4Year 5

What is column subtraction?

A boy pointing to a subtraction problem

Subtracting larger numbers in your head is not always easy, so you can use the column method to take one number away from another.

You write the larger number above the smaller number, so that the digits for each place value line up.

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

A boy pointing to a subtraction problem

Quiz: Subtraction with up to 4-digit numbers

Complete this quiz to understand how to subtract with up to four-digit numbers. Then put your knowledge to the test.

Using column subtraction

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.

Let's look at a question.

What is 548 subtract 234?

This is quite difficult to work out in your head, so let's use column subtraction.

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Start from the ones column: 8 - 4 = 4
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Next, subtract the tens: 40 - 30 = 10
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Now the hundreds: 500 - 200 = 300
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Finally, check your answer: 548 - 234 = 314

Subtraction with exchange

Sometimes a digit from the second number is larger than the digit in the first number.

This means it can't be directly subtracted. You need to exchange a digit from the next column.

Let's look at another subtraction.

What is 343 - 237?

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Start from the ones column: 3 – 7
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It's not possible to subtract 7 from 3, so exchange one ten from the tens column for ten ones. Rename 3 as 13 and then subtract: 13 - 7 = 6
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In the tens column, one ten has been exchanged, so 40 becomes 30: 30 – 30 = 0
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In the hundreds column: 300 - 200 = 100
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Check the finished subtraction. 343 - 237 = 106

Subtracting 4-digit numbers

If you can subtract two 3-digit numbers from each other, then you can use the same method to subtract two 4-digit numbers.

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

Take a look at this example:

What is 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. The subtraction becomes 12 hundreds take away 4 hundreds. 12 – 4 = 8
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Finally, subtract in the thousands column: 3 – 1 = 2. Then you have your final answer: 4328 – 1436 = 2892

Example 1

Which of these need you to exchange?

Can you answer this without solving the calculations?

Example 2

Sam drives 3,674km in January and 1,738km in February.

How much further has he driven in January?

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