Grade 5, Operations
Subtract large numbers
Subtract 5-digit and 6-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: 5-digit numbers
- Subtract. Regroup when you need to.
- Level 2: 6-digit numbers
- 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: 5-digit numbers
- Line up the ones. Ones: 2 < 4, so regroup 1 ten: 12 − 4 = 8.
- Tens: the 5 is now 4, and 4 < 7, so regroup 1 hundred: 14 − 7 = 7.
- Hundreds: the 3 is now 2, and 2 − 1 = 1. Thousands: 4 < 8, so regroup 1 ten thousand: 14 − 8 = 6.
- Ten thousands: the 6 is now 5, and 5 − 2 = 3. So 64 352 − 28 174 = 36 178.
Level 2: 6-digit numbers
- Line up the ones. Ones: 2 < 7, so regroup 1 ten: 12 − 7 = 5.
- Tens: the 6 is now 5, and 5 − 3 = 2. Hundreds: 8 − 4 = 4.
- Thousands: 1 < 5, so regroup 1 ten thousand: 11 − 5 = 6. Ten thousands: the 5 is now 4, and 4 − 2 = 2.
- Hundred thousands: 9 − 3 = 6. So 951 862 − 325 437 = 626 425.
Level 3: Across zeros
- Ones: 4 < 8, and the tens, hundreds and thousands are 0, so take 1 ten thousand.
- 10 000 = 9000 + 900 + 90 + 10, so 60 004 = 50 000 + 9000 + 900 + 90 + 14.
- Ones: 14 − 8 = 6. Tens: 9 − 5 = 4. Hundreds: 9 − 3 = 6. Thousands: 9 − 7 = 2.
- Ten thousands: the 6 is now 5, and 5 − 2 = 3. So 60 004 − 27 358 = 32 646.
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.5.c.5
The wording of each standard is on the Province's mathematics curriculum page.
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