Module 4 Calculating
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Can I add and subtract a multiple of ten?

Example review questions

  • Start at 34 and count on three lots of ten. Show that on a number line. Where do you land? Now write that as a number sentence.
  • What is 23 + 10? 23 + 20? 23 + 50?
  • Complete the empty boxes.
    A number line showing 20 + 50 = ?
  • empty box = 26 + 20
  • Altogether Sam and Annie have 96p. If Sam has 66p how much money must Annie have?
  • What is 56 − 10? 56 − 30? 56 − 50?
  • Subtract 30 from 56. What did you write, draw or imagine to help you?
  • Fill in the empty boxes.
    A number line showing 37 + ? = 77

Teaching guidance

This teaching guidance document suggests some of the key vocabulary, models, images and practical equipment that children should experience and be able to use. It also includes some teaching tips to provide a few starting points for ways of supporting children with this area of mathematics.

PDF file Can I add and subtract a multiple of ten? - teaching guidance | 155KB new window

Opportunities to use and apply

Possible contexts include:

  • Word problems involving money and measures, e.g. the bike I want to buy costs £85. I have saved £55. How much more do I need to save? A plant is 48cm tall. It grows another 30cm. How tall is it now?
  • Sequences, e.g. Complete these sequences:
    empty box, 23, 33, 43, empty box, empty box
    empty box, empty box, 55, 75, 95
  • Find examples that satisfy a statement, e.g. When I subtract 20 from a number the units number stays the same.
  • Explaining reasoning, e.g. Count on in tens from the number 27. Will the number 85 be in the count? How do you know? Use some equipment or an image to help you explain.
  • Add or subtract a near multiple of ten, e.g. work out that 35 + 19 = 54 because it is the same as 35 + 20 − 1.

Confirming learning

Ask probing questions such as:

  • What could the missing sign and number be on the jump on this number line?
    A number line showing 26 ? ? = 56
    Is there more than one possibility?
  • David said that 17 + 20 = 19. Can you think of what he might have done to get this answer? How would you show him how to find the answer?
  • What could the missing numbers be?
    empty box is 10 less than empty box
    empty box is 20 more than empty box
    What other numbers could you choose?
  • When I subtract a multiple of 10 from a two-digit number the units number always stays the same? Is this true?