Primary 5 Foundation maths · Operations · About 12 minutes
Mentally add and subtract ones, tens and hundreds
Name the size of the units being added, then change only that column.
Start the interactive lesson →Open practice activity
What you will learn
- Mentally add and subtract ones, tens and hundreds
Models used: number sentences, stories, bar models.
Before you start
Change one place, keep the others
Start with 247. We want to add 100.
The number at the top of each column is the value of one counter in that column.
Start with 247. We want to add 100.
A digit tells us how many units there are. Its position tells us what size those units are; that is why a zero can matter.
The number at the top of each column is the value of one counter in that column.
Add one more hundred. The other columns stay just as they were.
A digit tells us how many units there are. Its position tells us what size those units are; that is why a zero can matter.
The number at the top of each column is the value of one counter in that column.
No exchange was needed. Take that same group away to return to the starting number.
247 + 100 = 347
A digit tells us how many units there are. Its position tells us what size those units are; that is why a zero can matter.
What did the picture help us see?
No exchange was needed. Take that same group away to return to the starting number.
Worked example: A new example, together
Calculate 426 − 2.
The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
Name the size of the units being added, then change only that column.
Removing place-value parts one at a time gives the same difference.
The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
Line up the place values. Split the second number into place-value parts.
Calculate 426 − 2.
424
The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
426 − 2 = 424.
The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
The result is 424. Check with the inverse operation.
The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
Check the result against the question we started with.
424 + 2 = 426.
We found 424. Removing place-value parts one at a time gives the same difference.
Common mistakes to discuss
- Changing the wrong column. Adding tens changes the tens digit only. 523 + 30 is 553; the hundreds and ones stay as they are.
Check your understanding
- Mentally add and subtract ones, tens and hundreds
- add or subtract whole tens and hundreds mentally
- check the answer against the original quantities and units
Explain your reasoning to an adult, then try a fresh question in the interactive lesson. A result from one attempt is not proof of lasting mastery.
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