Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Column Addition

We can use column addition to add numbers together that are difficult to do mentally. Column addition is a way of writing down your working.

Column addition

Column addition

  • When adding using column addition, we need to line the numbers up in the columns which represent their place value.
Method

Method

  • When you use column calculations, you need to always start by adding the smallest column.
    • This is on the right of the column addition calculation.
  • Write the answer directly below the column as shown.
Method cont.

Method cont.

  • Then add the next column of numbers,
Answer

Answer

  • Continue to add the next column on the left until you have no more columns left to add.
  • The final answer is the number you are left with below.
Carrying

Carrying

  • Sometimes the two digits in a column add up to make 10 or more.
    • 8 + 6 = 14
  • So we need to carry a 1 into the column on the left.
  • This 1 is included when we go to add this column.
    • 4 + 2 + 1 = 7

Column Subtraction

We can also use the column method to take numbers away from other numbers.

Column Subtraction

Column Subtraction

  • When adding using column subtraction, we line the numbers up in the columns which represent their place value.
Method

Method

  • When you use column calculations, you need to always start by subtracting the smallest place value column.
    • This is on the right of the column subtraction calculation.
  • Write the answer directly below the column as shown.
Method cont.

Method cont.

  • Then subtract the next column of numbers.
Answer

Answer

  • Continue to subtract the next column on the left until you have no more columns left to subtract.
  • The final answer is the number you are left with below.
Carrying

Carrying

  • Sometimes the top digit in a column is less than the bottom digit.
  • So we need to borrow a "ten" from the column on the left as shown.
  • We then take away the bottom digit away from the new top digit.
  • We have to take away one from the digit we borrowed from.
Jump to other topics
1

Year 3 - Number

2

Year 3 - Measurement

3

Year 3 - Geometry

4

Year 3 - Statistics

5

Year 4 - Number

6

Year 4 - Measurement

7

Year 4 - Geometry

8

Year 4 - Statistics

Practice questions on Column Method

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
Answer all questions on Column Method

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium