Year 4 Maths: Subtracting from Numbers with Zero

Introduction to Subtracting from Numbers with Zero

Hello Year 4! Today, we are going to learn about subtracting from numbers that have zero in them. It sounds tricky, but don’t worry! We’ll break it down step by step.

What Does Subtracting Mean?

Subtracting means taking away. For example, if you have 5 apples and you eat 2, you have 3 apples left.

Why Is Zero Important?

Zero is a special number. It means “nothing.” When we subtract from numbers that have zero, we must remember some important rules.

Key Rules for Subtracting from Numbers with Zero

1. Subtracting Zero: If you subtract zero from any number, the number stays the same.
   • Example: $$5 – 0 = 5$$
2. Subtracting from a Number with a Zero in It: You can think of it as taking away from the number, focusing on the digits.
   • Example: $$30 – 20 = 10$$
   • Here, we take away 20 from 30, which has a zero in it.
3. Zero in the Result: When you subtract a larger number from a smaller number, the result is negative, but we usually deal with positive numbers in Year 4.
   • Example: $$10 – 20 = -10$$ (not a normal result in basic subtraction for our level)

Tips and Tricks

• Visualise: Sometimes, drawing pictures or using counters can help you see what happens when you subtract.
• Skip Count: When subtracting, you can skip count backwards to find the answer.
• Practice: The more you practice subtracting, the easier it will become!

Questions on Subtracting from Numbers with Zero

Easy Level Questions

1. What is $$5 – 0$$ ?
2. What is $$10 – 0$$ ?
3. What is $$20 – 0$$ ?
4. What is $$30 – 0$$ ?
5. What is $$40 – 0$$ ?
6. What is $$25 – 5$$ ?
7. What is $$15 – 5$$ ?
8. What is $$8 – 0$$ ?
9. What is $$50 – 0$$ ?
10. What is $$60 – 0$$ ?
11. What is $$70 – 0$$ ?
12. What is $$0 – 0$$ ?
13. What is $$100 – 0$$ ?
14. What is $$90 – 0$$ ?
15. What is $$80 – 0$$ ?
16. What is $$45 – 5$$ ?
17. What is $$55 – 5$$ ?
18. What is $$0 – 5$$ ?
19. What is $$10 – 5$$ ?
20. What is $$30 – 10$$ ?

Medium Level Questions

1. What is $$20 – 5$$ ?
2. What is $$40 – 20$$ ?
3. What is $$80 – 30$$ ?
4. What is $$50 – 25$$ ?
5. What is $$90 – 10$$ ?
6. What is $$60 – 20$$ ?
7. What is $$70 – 30$$ ?
8. What is $$30 – 15$$ ?
9. What is $$10 – 7$$ ?
10. What is $$100 – 50$$ ?
11. What is $$20 – 10$$ ?
12. What is $$15 – 5$$ ?
13. What is $$35 – 15$$ ?
14. What is $$45 – 25$$ ?
15. What is $$25 – 0$$ ?
16. What is $$55 – 15$$ ?
17. What is $$75 – 25$$ ?
18. What is $$90 – 40$$ ?
19. What is $$80 – 50$$ ?
20. What is $$70 – 60$$ ?

Hard Level Questions

1. What is $$100 – 75$$ ?
2. What is $$90 – 85$$ ?
3. What is $$80 – 65$$ ?
4. What is $$70 – 55$$ ?
5. What is $$60 – 45$$ ?
6. What is $$50 – 40$$ ?
7. What is $$40 – 35$$ ?
8. What is $$30 – 25$$ ?
9. What is $$20 – 15$$ ?
10. What is $$10 – 9$$ ?
11. What is $$90 – 70$$ ?
12. What is $$80 – 60$$ ?
13. What is $$70 – 50$$ ?
14. What is $$60 – 30$$ ?
15. What is $$50 – 10$$ ?
16. What is $$100 – 80$$ ?
17. What is $$30 – 10$$ ?
18. What is $$20 – 5$$ ?
19. What is $$10 – 2$$ ?
20. What is $$50 – 0$$ ?

Answers Explained

Easy Level Answers

1. $$5 – 0 = 5$$
2. $$10 – 0 = 10$$
3. $$20 – 0 = 20$$
4. $$30 – 0 = 30$$
5. $$40 – 0 = 40$$
6. $$25 – 5 = 20$$
7. $$15 – 5 = 10$$
8. $$8 – 0 = 8$$
9. $$50 – 0 = 50$$
10. $$60 – 0 = 60$$
11. $$70 – 0 = 70$$
12. $$0 – 0 = 0$$
13. $$100 – 0 = 100$$
14. $$90 – 0 = 90$$
15. $$80 – 0 = 80$$
16. $$45 – 5 = 40$$
17. $$55 – 5 = 50$$
18. $$0 – 5 = -5$$ (not a normal result for our level)
19. $$10 – 5 = 5$$
20. $$30 – 10 = 20$$

Medium Level Answers

1. $$20 – 5 = 15$$
2. $$40 – 20 = 20$$
3. $$80 – 30 = 50$$
4. $$50 – 25 = 25$$
5. $$90 – 10 = 80$$
6. $$60 – 20 = 40$$
7. $$70 – 30 = 40$$
8. $$30 – 15 = 15$$
9. $$10 – 7 = 3$$
10. $$100 – 50 = 50$$
11. $$20 – 10 = 10$$
12. $$15 – 5 = 10$$
13. $$35 – 15 = 20$$
14. $$45 – 25 = 20$$
15. $$25 – 0 = 25$$
16. $$55 – 15 = 40$$
17. $$75 – 25 = 50$$
18. $$90 – 40 = 50$$
19. $$80 – 50 = 30$$
20. $$70 – 60 = 10$$

Hard Level Answers

1. $$100 – 75 = 25$$
2. $$90 – 85 = 5$$
3. $$80 – 65 = 15$$
4. $$70 – 55 = 15$$
5. $$60 – 45 = 15$$
6. $$50 – 40 = 10$$
7. $$40 – 35 = 5$$
8. $$30 – 25 = 5$$
9. $$20 – 15 = 5$$
10. $$10 – 9 = 1$$
11. $$90 – 70 = 20$$
12. $$80 – 60 = 20$$
13. $$70 – 50 = 20$$
14. $$60 – 30 = 30$$
15. $$50 – 10 = 40$$
16. $$100 – 80 = 20$$
17. $$30 – 10 = 20$$
18. $$20 – 5 = 15$$
19. $$10 – 2 = 8$$
20. $$50 – 0 = 50$$

Now you have a good understanding of subtracting from numbers with zero! Practice these questions and you’ll become a subtraction superstar!