Add by place value
245,000 + 31,000 = 276,000 because we combine the thousands.
Line up places mentally before adding.
Year 5
Add and subtract whole numbers with more than 4 digits, including using formal written methods where appropriate
Add and subtract larger whole numbers and choose when a formal written method is helpful.
Lesson overview
Number - addition and subtraction
Larger numbers can still be combined by place value. Some questions are efficient mentally, but others are clearer with a written layout. The key is choosing a method that keeps each place organised.
Subtract with exchange
603,200 - 4,700 needs careful regrouping.
A written method helps when several places change.
Choose an efficient method
500,000 + 9,999 is easier by adjusting from a known number.
Think about whether the numbers suggest a quick strategy.
Worked example
Calculate 482,631 + 157,209.
- Line up the digits by place.
- Add the ones, tens and hundreds carefully.
- Keep exchanging into the next place when needed.
- The total is 639,840.
Round 1: Learn it
Choose a sensible method and keep the places lined up clearly.
Finish this round to unlock Round 2: Show you know it.
Question 1
Calculate 245,000 + 31,000.
Question 2
Which is the correct answer to 603,200 - 4,700?
Question 3
Calculate 482,631 + 157,209.
Question 4
Which answer matches 800,000 - 245,300?
Question 5
What is 500,000 + 9,999?
Common mistakes
Watch for these as you work through the lesson.
- Misaligning digits in different places.
- Forgetting an exchange when a column goes above nine.
- Subtracting the smaller place from the larger place without regrouping.
Related topics
These ideas connect closely to this lesson.
- Add and subtract numbers mentally with increasingly large numbers.
- Use rounding to check answers to calculations and determine, in the context of a problem, levels of accuracy.