Identify the minuend and subtrahend in column subtraction | Maths

Starter quiz

Which number represents the whole in this bar model?
- 15
- 41
- 51 ✓
- 501
Subtract 20 from the number represented by the base ten blocks. What answer do you get?
- '31' ✓
Which number represents the whole in this equation? 25 − 12 = 13
- 25 ✓
- 12
- 13
Which number represents the whole in this equation? 20 = 42 − 22
- '42' ✓
What is 87 − 40 = ______
- '47' ✓
Match up the parts to the correct whole, using the bar model to help you.
- 54 − 22 =
  
  ⇔
  
  32 ✓
- 54 − 32 =
  
  ⇔
  
  22 ✓
- 32 + 22 =
  
  ⇔
  
  54 ✓

Exit quiz

Which number in the bar model is the minuend?
- 65 ✓
- 52
- 13
Which number in this equation is the subtrahend? 47 − 34 = 13
- '34' ✓
Which number in this column subtraction is the minuend?
- '68' ✓
What is the name of the part that is circled in the column subtraction?
- Minuend
- Subtrahend
- Difference ✓
Which equation exactly matches the column subtraction?
- 37 − 15 = 22 ✓
- 37 = 15 + 22
- 37 − 22 = 15
- 22 + 15 = 22
Which column subtraction shows the correct difference?

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The minuend is written first in a column subtraction.
The subtrahend is written beneath the minuend.
The difference is recorded underneath the minuend and subtrahend, with the same value digits in the same column.

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle when horizontal calculations do not present the minuend at the beginning of the equation (e.g. 23 = 44 - 21).

Discuss with pupils the minuend as the whole. It is the number being subtracted from. In a column subtraction, we always write the minuend first but it does not always appear first in horizontal calculations.

Keywords

Minuend - The minuend is the number being subtracted from.
Subtrahend - A subtrahend is a number subtracted from another.
Difference - The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another.
Column subtraction - Column subtraction is a way of subtracting numbers by writing a number below another.