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エレメンタリーまなびの未来

Grade 3Math

Adding and Subtracting 3- and 4-Digit NumbersUse the column method, no matter how many times you carry or borrow

To add and subtract 3-digit and 4-digit numbers, we use the same idea as the column method for 2-digit numbers: line up the places and calculate in order, starting from the ones place.

The narration and the pictures are in Japanese. You can hear the same words that are used in class at a Japanese school.

Video
2:37（10 scenes）
Problems
2 problems

Open this lesson in Japanese（3けた・4けたの たし算と ひき算）

0:00
  1. 1Line up the places0:00
  2. 2The ones place0:13
  3. 3The tens place0:25
  4. 4The hundreds place and the answer0:38
  5. 5Adding numbers with a thousands place0:52
  6. 6Subtraction (the ones place)1:11
  7. 7Subtraction (the tens and hundreds places)1:25
  8. 8Subtraction with zeros1:42
  9. 9Checking the answer2:06
  10. 10Let's try2:20

Let's try

Write the math sentence in your notebook first, then open the answer.

  1. 1Calculate 5230 − 2874 with the column method.

    Hint

    When you can't subtract in the ones place, borrow 1 from the place above.

    Answer

    It is 2356. Ones place: 10 − 4 = 6. Tens place: 12 − 7 = 5. Hundreds place: 11 − 8 = 3. Thousands place: 4 − 2 = 2. You borrow 3 times.

  2. 2Calculate 3764 + 2958 with the column method.

    Hint

    Don't forget to add the number you carried when you calculate the next place.

    Answer

    It is 6722. Ones place: 4 + 8 = 12. Tens place: 6 + 5 + 1 = 12. Hundreds place: 7 + 9 + 1 = 17. Thousands place: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6.

Words in this lesson

column method 筆算ひっさん
A way of calculating where you write the numbers with their places lined up in columns.
carrying くり上がりくりあがり
In addition, when the answer in a place makes a group of ten, you carry 1 to the next place up.
borrowing くり下がりくりさがり
In subtraction, when you can't subtract in a place, you borrow 1 from the next place up and then calculate.
checking 確かめたしかめ
Using a different calculation to find out if your answer is right.

For parents and guardians

  • The names of lessons and the order of topics differ slightly between textbooks. This page follows the content of Japan's national curriculum guidelines (the Course of Study).
  • Children often stumble by forgetting to add the carried number, and by borrowing in subtraction when the place above is 0. Setting a routine helps prevent this: write the carried number small above the place, and rewrite the digits after borrowing.
  • To check whether an answer is right, for addition you can "swap the two numbers being added and do it again," and for subtraction you can "add the number you subtracted to the answer." Please let your child know that even with bigger numbers, they can calculate with the same idea as for 2-digit numbers.
  • Calculating in your head (mental math) is covered on the page "Mental Math with 2-Digit Numbers."