How to subtract by adding on, using a column method

1. Subtraction of Whole Numbers by
Counting Up, Using A Column
Method
(the 2nd step towards using a standard
written method for subtraction)
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2. To “Count Up” you need to add on from the smaller
number to the larger number in stages. To record it using
a column method you need to first be able to record it on
a number line. For example 86 – 47 = 39:
+3
47 50
+ 30
+6
56
86

3. To “Count Up” you need to add on from the smaller
number to the larger number in stages. To record it using
a column method you need to first be able to record it on
a number line. For example 86 – 47 = 39:
+3
47 50
This can then
be developed
into a column
method:
+ 30
+6
86
56
86
-47

4. To “Count Up” you need to add on from the smaller
number to the larger number in stages. To record it using
a column method you need to first be able to record it on
a number line. For example 86 – 47 = 39:
+3
47 50
This can then
be developed
into a column
method:
+ 30
+6
86
56
86
-47
3
50

5. To “Count Up” you need to add on from the smaller
number to the larger number in stages. To record it using
a column method you need to first be able to record it on
a number line. For example 86 – 47 = 39:
+3
47 50
This can then
be developed
into a column
method:
+ 30
+6
86
56
86
-47
3
50
6
56

6. To “Count Up” you need to add on from the smaller
number to the larger number in stages. To record it using
a column method you need to first be able to record it on
a number line. For example 86 – 47 = 39:
+3
47 50
This can then
be developed
into a column
method:
+ 30
+6
86
56
86
-47
3
50
6
30
56
86

7. To “Count Up” you need to add on from the smaller
number to the larger number in stages. To record it using
a column method you need to first be able to record it on
a number line. For example 86 – 47 = 39:
+3
47 50
This can then
be developed
into a column
method:
+ 30
+6
86
56
86
-47
3
50
6
30
56
86
39

8. As you become
more confident,
the number of
steps can be reduced:
86
-47

9. As you become
more confident,
the number of
steps can be reduced:
86
-47
9
56

10. As you become
more confident,
the number of
steps can be reduced:
86
-47
9
56
30
86

11. As you become
more confident,
the number of
steps can be reduced:
86
-47
9
56
30
86
39

12. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
300
330
335
+5
330 335

13. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
+5
330 335

14. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
3
180
+5
330 335

15. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
3
20
180
200
+5
330 335

16. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
3
20
100
180
200
300
+5
330 335

17. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
3
20
100
30
180
200
300
330
+5
330 335

18. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
3
20
100
30
5
180
200
300
330
335
+5
330 335

19. Counting up can also be used with 3 digit numbers, for
example: 335 – 177 = 158. Firstly, using a number line:
+3
177 180
+ 20
+ 30
+ 100
200
Then using
the column
method:
300
335
-177
3
20
100
30
5
158
180
200
300
330
335
+5
330 335

20. As with 2 digit
numbers, the
amount of
steps can
be reduced:
335
-177

21. As with 2 digit
numbers, the
amount of
steps can
be reduced:
335
-177
23
200

22. As with 2 digit
numbers, the
amount of
steps can
be reduced:
335
-177
23
135
200
335

23. As with 2 digit
numbers, the
amount of
steps can
be reduced:
335
-177
23
135
158
200
335

24. That’s it for now......
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