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Grade 4, Operations

Subtract 4-digit numbers

Subtract 4-digit numbers in columns, including regrouping across zeros.

Three levels

One skill, rising difficulty

Each sheet carries one level. The three are the same skill at rising difficulty, each named for what it practises.

Level 1: No regrouping
Subtract.
Level 2: With regrouping
Subtract. Regroup when you need to.
Level 3: Across zeros
Subtract. Regroup across the zeros.

Worked example

How the sheet explains it

The helper printed at the top of each sheet: one solved example and the steps a student follows, before the first question. Every number sentence in it is proven by the same checker as the answer key.

Level 1: No regrouping

  1. Line up the places. Ones: 6 − 1 = 5. Tens: 8 − 4 = 4.
  2. Hundreds: 5 − 3 = 2. Thousands: 7 − 2 = 5.
  3. So 7586 − 2341 = 5245.
  4. Check by adding: 5245 + 2341 = 7586.

Level 2: With regrouping

  1. Ones: 3 < 8, so regroup 1 ten as 10 ones: 13 − 8 = 5.
  2. Tens: the 4 is now 3, and 3 − 1 = 2.
  3. Hundreds: 2 < 6, so regroup 1 thousand as 10 hundreds: 12 − 6 = 6.
  4. Thousands: the 7 is now 6, and 6 − 2 = 4. So 7243 − 2618 = 4625.

Level 3: Across zeros

  1. Ones: 3 < 8, and the tens and hundreds are 0.
  2. No tens or hundreds to take from, so take 1 thousand: 1000 = 900 + 90 + 10.
  3. So 5003 = 4000 + 900 + 90 + 13. Ones: 13 − 8 = 5. Tens: 9 − 6 = 3.
  4. Hundreds: 9 − 2 = 7. Thousands: the 5 is now 4, and 4 − 1 = 3. So 5003 − 1268 = 3735.

Goes with

Reference sheets

One-page helpers a student keeps beside this sheet:

  • Adding and subtracting in columns

Every reference, facts and support sheet is listed in the worksheet catalogue.

In the BC curriculum

Content standards

The British Columbia content standard this skill is written for, by the codes used across this site:

  • bc.math.4.c.4

The wording of each standard is on the Province's mathematics curriculum page.

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Back to all worksheets by grade, or read the Grade 4 guide to what this grade learns in British Columbia.