Mental maths · lesson 5 of 28 · free

Subtract by counting up — Mental Maths Mastery

When two numbers are close but on either side of a round number, taking away is messy. Count up from the smaller number to the bigger one in friendly jumps instead — just like a shopkeeper.

How to do it in your head

Count up — “the difference is the distance from the smaller number to the bigger one”

  1. Start at the smaller number.
  2. Jump to the next ten, then the next hundred, then to the bigger number.
  3. Add up all the jumps.

Use it for: Sums like 1002 − 997, 52 − 47, finding how many more, and checking change.

Worked example: 503 − 486 = 17

  1. 486 → 490 is 4.
  2. 490 → 500 is 10, and 500 → 503 is 3.
  3. 4 + 10 + 3 = 17.

Check: 486 + 17 = 503 ✓

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

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🏁 Lesson 5 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

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🖨️ Subtraction by Counting Up Worksheet

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