Practice Written addition and subtraction
Written addition and subtraction work one place value at a time, using carrying or borrowing when needed.
They help you calculate totals and differences accurately.
Exercises with solutions
Write the numbers aligned by place value, ones under ones and tens under tens. Then work from right to left. When adding you carry, when subtracting you borrow a ten from the next place.
Exercise 1
Add 4,678 + 2,549.
Show solution and working
7,227
Ones: 8 + 9 = 17, so 7 and carry 1. Tens: 7 + 4 + 1 = 12, so 2 and carry 1. Hundreds: 6 + 5 + 1 = 12, so 2 and carry 1. Thousands: 4 + 2 + 1 = 7.
Exercise 2
Subtract 5,032 − 1,748.
Show solution and working
3,284
Ones: 2 − 8 does not work, so borrow: 12 − 8 = 4. Tens: 12 − 4 = 8. Hundreds: 2 − 7 does not work, so borrow: 12 − 7 = 5 and the thousands digit becomes 4. Thousands: 4 − 1 = 3.
Exercise 3
Add 386 + 47 + 1,209.
Show solution and working
1,642
Write all numbers aligned by place value even when they have different lengths. First 386 + 47 = 433, then 433 + 1,209 = 1,642.
Exercise 4
Calculate 7,000 − 4,365.
Show solution and working
2,635
With zeros you have to borrow through every place. 7,000 − 4,365 = 2,635. Check: 2,635 + 4,365 = 7,000.
Common mistake
Not aligning the numbers by place value: 386 under 1,209 must be right-aligned, otherwise you add the wrong places. Always verify the result with the inverse operation.
Maths by grade
Keep learning with MatheJump
Create a free account and explore math practice. Choose from the available exercises to suit your learning needs.