An Easy Approach to Addition and Subtraction for Grade 4 [24 Practice Worksheets]

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Concept: What Is Subtraction?

Subtraction: The process of finding the difference between the two numbers is called subtraction. The bigger number is subtracted from the smaller number.

Minuend: The bigger number from which the smaller number is subtracted is called minuend.

Subtrahend: The smaller number which is subtracted from the bigger number is called subtrahend.

Difference: The result of subtraction is called difference.

What is the basic law of subtraction? 

The law of subtraction states that if you subtract a number from another number, the result is called the difference. 

Mathematically expressed: a - b = c;

Where a is minuend and b is the subtrahend and c is the difference.

Want to check more on subtraction? Click here to watch a video

What is subtraction with borrowing?

Borrowing occurs when the digit in the minuend is smaller than the corresponding digit in the subtrahend; and we "borrow" 1 from the next higher place value in the minuend.This borrowing effectively reduces the next higher place digit by 1 and adds 10 to the current place value, enabling the subtraction.

Steps to Perform Addition with Borrowing:

Step 1: Arrange the numbers so that the digits align by place value (ones, tens, hundreds, etc.).
Step 2: Start subtracting the number from the ones place and continue to the left.
Step 3: When the minuend is smaller than the subtrahend, borrow 1 from the digits in the left column.
Step 4: Continue the same process.

Example: 2354 - 1732

Try these yourself! -

1. Subtract 471 from 890
2. Subtract 283 from 835
3. Solve: 762 - 493
4. Subtract 4563 from 7415

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Let us understand subtraction of 5-Digit, 6-Digit numbers with and without borrowing.

Subtraction of 5-Digit Numbers With Borrowing:

Example: 45324 - 32147

Step 1. At Ones place, 4 < 7. Hence, borrowing 10 from tens. 4 + 10 = 14.
14 - 7 = 7. At Tens, 2 - 1 = 1.

Step 2. At Tens, 1 < 4. Hence, borrowing 10 from hundredths. 1 + 10 = 11.
11 - 4 = 7. At Hundredths, 3 - 1 = 2.

Step 3. At Hundredths, 2 - 1 = 1

Step 4. At Thousandths, 5 - 2 = 3

Step 5. At Ten Thousandths, 4 - 3 = 1

The result is 13177.

Try these yourself! - 

1. 56723 - 34989 = ?
2. 89760 - 45998 = ?

 

Subtraction of 5-Digit Numbers Without Borrowing:

Example - 67954 - 36141

Step 1. At Ones place, 4 - 1 = 3.

Step 2. At Tens place, 5 - 4 = 1

Step 3. At Hundredths place, 9 - 1 = 8

Step 4. At Thousandths place, 7 - 6 = 1

Step 5. At Ten Thousandths place, 6 - 3 = 3

The result is 31813.

Try these yourself! - 

1. 67896 - 12432 = ?
2. 89779 - 43211 = ?

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Subtraction of 6-Digit Numbers With Borrowing:

Example: 391542 - 237258

Step 1. At Ones place, 2 < 8. Hence, borrowing 10 from tens. 2 + 10 = 12.
12 - 8 = 4. At Tens, 4 becomes 3.

Step 2. At Tens place, 3 < 5. So borrowing 1 from Hundredths place. 3 becomes 13, and 5 becomes 4.

Step 3. At Hundredths place, 4 > 2. So, 4 - 2 = 2.

Step 4. At Thousandths place, 1 < 7, borrowing 10 from Ten Thousandths place. So, 1 in  Thousandths place becomes 11. And 9 in Ten Thousandths place becomes 9 - 1 = 8.

Step 5. At Ten Thousandths place, 9 - 1 = 8. So, 8 - 3 = 5

Step 6. Similarly at Lakhs place, 3 - 2 = 1.

The result is 154284.

Try these yourself! - 

1. 834521 - 598979 = ?
2. 732412 - 398768 = ?

Subtraction of 6-Digit Numbers Without Borrowing:

Example: 685689 - 474248

Step 1. At Ones place, 9 - 8 = 1

Step 2. At Tens place, 8 - 4 = 4

Step 3. At Hundredths, 6 - 2 = 4

Step 4. At Thousandths place, 5 - 4 = 1

Step 5. At Ten Thousandths place, 8 - 7 = 1

Step 6. At Lakhs place, 6 - 4 = 2

The result is 211441.

Try these yourself! - 

1. 989789 - 632414 = ?
2. 879969 - 343212 = ?

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What are some real-life examples of addition and subtraction?

1. Counting Money:

Source: Alamy

If you have a Rs. 10 note and receive a Rs. 20 note from your friend, how much money do you have?

Addition: Rs. 10 + Rs. 20 = Rs. 30 

You have Rs. 30 in total

Now, from that 30 rupees, you buy a toy car for Rs. 8. How much money do you have left after the purchase?

Subtraction: Rs. 30 − Rs. 8 = Rs. 22

You have Rs. 22 left.

 

2. Books in a Backpack:

You have 5 books in your backpack. Your friend gives you 3 more books. How many books do you have in your backpack now?

Addition: 5 books + 3 books = 8 books

Your book has 200 pages. You've already read 75 pages. How many pages do you still need to read?

Subtraction: 200 pages − 75 pages = 125 pages

You need to read 125 pages to finish the book!

 

3. Shopping:

If you buy a shirt for Rs. 500 and a pair of pants for Rs. 1000, the total cost is the sum of the two prices:

Addition: Rs. 500 + Rs. 1000 = Rs. 1500

You will spend Rs. 1500 in total.

You get a discount of Rs 250. How much do you have to pay?

Subtraction: Rs. 1500 - Rs. 250 = Rs. 1250.

 

4. Candies:

The jar has 50 candies. You add 30 candies to it. How many candies are there in the jar?

Addition: 50 candies + 30 candies = 80 candies.

Now you eat 18 candies, how many candies do you have left?

Subtraction: 80 candies − 18 candies = 62 candies.

 

5. Apples:

You pick 4 apples from one cart and 6 apples from another. How many apples do you have in total?

Addition: 4 apples + 6 apples = 10 apples

While at home, you eat 2 apples. How many apples are left?

Subtraction: 10 apples - 2 apples = 8 apples 

 

6. Marbles:

You start with 7 marbles, and your friend gives you 5 more marbles. How many marbles do you have now?

Addition: 7 marbles + 5 marbles = 12 marbles

You give 3 marbles to your sister. How many marbles do you have now?

Subtraction: 12 marbles - 3 marbles = 9 marbles

 

7. Crayons:

Your teacher has 70 crayons for the class. She brings 40 crayons more. How many crayons are with the teacher?

Addition: 70 crayons + 40 crayons = 110 crayons.

Some students have used 40 crayons. How many crayons are left with the teacher now?

Subtraction: 110 crayons - 40 crayons = 70 crayons.

 

8. Cookies:

Your mother had cooked 10 cookies for snacks in the evening.

Out of those, you had eaten 4 cookies. So, how many cookies were left?

Addition: 10 cookies - 4 cookies = 6 cookies.

Seeing this, your mother prepared another 10 cookies at night. How many cookies were there in total then?

Subtraction: 6 cookies + 10 cookies = 16 cookies.

 

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Fun facts about addition and subtraction:

So, here are some fun and interesting facts about addition and subtraction:

• Addition sum is Ancient: Adding is an ancient concept. The Egyptians and Babylonians used simple addition in their early number systems dating back over 4,000 years!

• Zero's Role: The number 0 is the additive identity. Adding zero to any number leaves it unchanged (for example, 5 +0=5).

• First Addition Table: Greek and Roman scientists discovered first the origin of adding tables. They lead our modern adding table in use.

• Adding Even Numbers: When you add two even numbers, the sum is always even. Example: 4 + 6 =10

• If 0 is subtracted from any number then the number remain itself. Example: 560 – 0 = 560 

Want quick and a handy guide on important maths formulae? Check here!

 

8. 7,125 + 5,432 = ?

a) 12,457

b) 12,557

c) 12,457

d) 12,647

 

9. A bakery sold 673 cakes in the morning and 529 in the afternoon. How many cakes did they sell in total?

a) 1,102

b) 1,202

c) 1,112

d) 1,132

 

10. Rani has 250 marbles, and her friend gives her 150 more. How many marbles does she have now?

a) 300

b) 350

c) 400

d) 450

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Practice Worksheets:

Click to download the worksheets for hands-on practice!

 

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

 

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

 

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

 

 

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

 

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

 

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

 

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