Addition and Subtraction: Multi-Step Problems
In Year 5, pupils use column addition and column subtraction (including exchanging, sometimes called borrowing, across more than one column) to add and subtract whole numbers with more than 4 digits.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read a multi-step problem carefully and decide what is being asked for at the end, then work out what smaller calculations are needed to get there.
- Note down each number given in the problem along with what it represents, since multi-step problems often have more numbers than steps.
- For column addition, line up the digits by place value (ones under ones, tens under tens), add each column from the right, and carry into the next column when a column totals 10 or more.
- For column subtraction, line up the digits by place value, subtract each column from the right, and exchange from the next column to the left whenever the top digit is smaller than the digit below it.
- Decide the order of operations in a word problem: often you must find an in-between total or difference before you can find the final answer.
- Estimate the answer first by rounding each number to the nearest appropriate place value, so you can spot a final answer that is clearly wrong.
- Check a subtraction answer by adding it back to the number subtracted; you should get the original number back.
Worked example
A charity shop took 3,845 pounds in January and 2,967 pounds in February. In March, it took 1,528 pounds less than the combined total of January and February. How much did the shop take in March?
- Find the combined total for January and February: 3,845 + 2,967.
- Add using column addition: 3,845 + 2,967 = 6,812.
- Find March's takings by subtracting 1,528 from the combined total: 6,812 - 1,528.
- Subtract using column subtraction: 6,812 - 1,528 = 5,284.
- So the shop took 5,284 pounds in March.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Work out 4,672 + 3,859 using column addition.Show answer
Answer: 8,531
Q2Work out 8,203 - 3,647 using column subtraction.Show answer
Answer: 4,556
Q3A school hall holds 5,240 chairs when fully set out. If 1,876 chairs are already out, how many more are needed?Show answer
Answer: 3,364 (5,240 - 1,876)
Q4Yusuf has saved 2,340 pounds. He then earns another 785 pounds from a part-time job, and spends 599 pounds on a laptop. How much does he have left?Show answer
Answer: 2,526 pounds (2,340 + 785 = 3,125; 3,125 - 599 = 2,526)
Q5A theatre sold 4,128 tickets on Friday and 3,956 on Saturday, against a target of 9,000 tickets for the two days combined. By how many tickets did it miss the target?Show answer
Answer: 916 tickets short (4,128 + 3,956 = 8,084; 9,000 - 8,084 = 916)
Q6Estimate the answer to 7,364 + 2,489 by rounding each number to the nearest thousand, then find the exact answer using column addition.Show answer
Answer: Estimate: 7,000 + 2,000 = 9,000. Exact answer: 7,364 + 2,489 = 9,853.
Q7A warehouse had 12,500 boxes in stock. During one week, 4,738 boxes were delivered out and a further 2,164 boxes were sold. How many boxes remain in stock?Show answer
Answer: 5,598 boxes (12,500 - 4,738 = 7,762; 7,762 - 2,164 = 5,598)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS2 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A cinema has 5,280 seats across all its screens. On a Saturday, 3,647 tickets were sold in advance online, and a further 895 tickets were sold on the day at the box office. How many seats were left empty?
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A haulage lorry starts a delivery round with 8,050 kg of goods on board. At the first stop it delivers 2,486 kg, and at the second stop it delivers 3,275 kg. It then collects a further 1,640 kg for the return leg. How many kg of goods are on the lorry by the end of the round?
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Work out 9,006 - 4,258 using column subtraction, showing any exchanging you need to do.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the addition and subtraction: multi-step problems worksheet pack - 7 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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