How it works
Line the numbers up. Start with the ones, then each place.
Carry a ten up when adding. Break a ten down when you need more to take away.
Check by adding back.
Worked examples
No breaking
- 5167 − 3352 = ?
- Start with the ones.
- Then the tens, hundreds and thousands.
- So the answer is 1815.
A big take-away
- 95026 − 16135 = ?
- Break a ten or a hundred when a digit is too small.
- Work place by place.
- So the answer is 78891.
A very big one
- ? = 312971 − 64762
- Line up the places carefully.
- Break from the next place to the left.
- So the answer is 248209.
A taste of the worksheet
These are the first problems of set A. The printable sheet has many more, with an answer key.
- 4814 + 3825 = __
- 4616 − 123 = __
- 3234 − 1611 = __
- 5927 − 646 = __
- 6777 − 2191 = __
Words to know
- column
- Digits lined up in a place.
- regroup
- To trade between places.