Year 6 Maths Homework help!

hedwigsbeak · 2025-10-02T19:20:27+00:00

Can anyone help with this question please, and explain it to me in a simple way? You have to fill in the missing digits. I’m getting confused when it comes to exchanging between columns. Maths teacher has apparently taught them the technique but DC doesn’t get it and neither do I! Thanks!

ginginginnygin · 02/10/2025 20:32

Work from left to right carefully working out each column. This is the answer but it’s messy!

3within3 · 02/10/2025 20:36

No I think the question is a 5 digit number minus another 5 digit number. Which equals the 5 digit number on the bottom row. You therefore can’t enter a double digit number into one of the little boxes

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2025 20:36

see photo

3within3 · 02/10/2025 20:42

Oh I see yes you’re right see what you mean it’s 71427 minus 42535 = 28892.

i misread the crossed out 7 and 1 as X’s !

Kellyaldridge1979 · 02/10/2025 20:47

Apparently u have to work right to left. So top right which is 7, take away from bottom 5 which leaves 2.
And the rest is about borrowing '10'
I cant explain as I dont fully understand. I asked Chat GPT lol.
That will explain. And if u dont understand it will keep trying to explain it easier.

Original poster

hedwigsbeak · 02/10/2025 20:51

Thank you! So you start from the left. I am still struggling with the third column though. Can anyone explain in an easy way why the 4 becomes a 13 giving 5 in the lower number?

OP posts:

Original poster

hedwigsbeak · 02/10/2025 20:53

Cross post sorry! Now I’m not sure which direction to work in!

OP posts:

GagMeWithASpoon · 02/10/2025 20:59

As a was of explanation, you need to work backwards starting at the last column. (The ones)
7-2=5
Then what number can she take 3 away from to make 9? It must be 12 (9+3). However , she can’t put 12 in one box, so she has to borrow 1 from the next column(is she familiar with slash and steal) and put a 2 in the tens.
Moving to the hundreds , there was a 4, but since she took one away, now she’s left with 3, from which she can’t take away 5. Again, she has to borrow one from the next column to make 13. 13-5=8
Going to the thousands 8+2 make 10, but since she borrowed 1 previously, that makes 11. Again , she puts 1 in the box and that means she borrowed one from the tens of thousands. Moving to the first column, 2+4=6, plus the one she borrowed, makes 7.

Hope this makes some kind of sense.

Helpmechooseausername · 02/10/2025 21:13

I've worked in year 6 for years. I love year 6 maths!! You should start at the left and work to the right. It's always like that in maths. Always work out each column at a time.

The 'ones' column on the left shows the sum

7 - 5 = 2

The next column across is the 'tens' column and has the sum

? - 3 = 9

We know that 12 - 3 = 9 (because we know that 9 + 3 = 12), so 12 goes above the 3 ... except that you can't put two digits in one box. You have to think of the 12 as 10 + 2. So you put 2 in the box above the 3 and the 10 becomes a 1 in the next column along to the left. (That column is the 'hundreds' column and is therefore worth ten times more than the 'tens' column, so the 10 doesn't need it's 0 when you move it along to the next column) (I can explain that more if you need me to!!)

So, you need to add that 1 to the 4 in the 'hundreds' column. 4 + 1 = 5.

Moving left again into the 'thousands' column and you've got a sum that says

? - 2 = 8

We know that 10 - 2 = 8 (because we know that 2 + 8 = 10)

Again, you can't put a two digit number in one box, so you split the 10 into a 10 and a zero. Put the zero into the box above the 2 and add the 10 as a 1 into the next column along.

Now you need to deal with the final column, the 'ten thousands' column. You've got a sum there that says

? - 4 = 2

We know that's 6 - 4 = 2. But you now have to add the 1 that you brought over from the previous column to the 6, so the answer in that column is now 7.

Done!

It's all about remembering to deal with each column on its own before moving onto the next column. Always start on the left or it won't work. That's the same if you're adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing.

Hope that helps! It sounds complicated but as long as you follow all the steps in the right order it's easy enough!!

Original poster

hedwigsbeak · 02/10/2025 21:26

I think I nearly understand it! I do know how to do normal column subtraction. It’s just my brain is getting confused about whether I’m borrowing a 10 or giving a 10 back! And whether the number I write is before or after the exchanging! I will sit and read the explanations a few more times and I’m sure it will sink in!

OP posts:

Original poster

hedwigsbeak · 02/10/2025 21:27

Thank you everyone for taking the time to explain this!

OP posts:

Underthinker · 02/10/2025 21:33

Helpmechooseausername · 02/10/2025 21:13

I've worked in year 6 for years. I love year 6 maths!! You should start at the left and work to the right. It's always like that in maths. Always work out each column at a time.

The 'ones' column on the left shows the sum

7 - 5 = 2

The next column across is the 'tens' column and has the sum

? - 3 = 9

We know that 12 - 3 = 9 (because we know that 9 + 3 = 12), so 12 goes above the 3 ... except that you can't put two digits in one box. You have to think of the 12 as 10 + 2. So you put 2 in the box above the 3 and the 10 becomes a 1 in the next column along to the left. (That column is the 'hundreds' column and is therefore worth ten times more than the 'tens' column, so the 10 doesn't need it's 0 when you move it along to the next column) (I can explain that more if you need me to!!)

So, you need to add that 1 to the 4 in the 'hundreds' column. 4 + 1 = 5.

Moving left again into the 'thousands' column and you've got a sum that says

? - 2 = 8

We know that 10 - 2 = 8 (because we know that 2 + 8 = 10)

Again, you can't put a two digit number in one box, so you split the 10 into a 10 and a zero. Put the zero into the box above the 2 and add the 10 as a 1 into the next column along.

Now you need to deal with the final column, the 'ten thousands' column. You've got a sum there that says

? - 4 = 2

We know that's 6 - 4 = 2. But you now have to add the 1 that you brought over from the previous column to the 6, so the answer in that column is now 7.

Done!

It's all about remembering to deal with each column on its own before moving onto the next column. Always start on the left or it won't work. That's the same if you're adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing.

Hope that helps! It sounds complicated but as long as you follow all the steps in the right order it's easy enough!!

This sounds good but don't you have your left and right mixed up?

Plist · 02/10/2025 21:35

Helpmechooseausername · 02/10/2025 21:13

I've worked in year 6 for years. I love year 6 maths!! You should start at the left and work to the right. It's always like that in maths. Always work out each column at a time.

The 'ones' column on the left shows the sum

7 - 5 = 2

The next column across is the 'tens' column and has the sum

? - 3 = 9

We know that 12 - 3 = 9 (because we know that 9 + 3 = 12), so 12 goes above the 3 ... except that you can't put two digits in one box. You have to think of the 12 as 10 + 2. So you put 2 in the box above the 3 and the 10 becomes a 1 in the next column along to the left. (That column is the 'hundreds' column and is therefore worth ten times more than the 'tens' column, so the 10 doesn't need it's 0 when you move it along to the next column) (I can explain that more if you need me to!!)

So, you need to add that 1 to the 4 in the 'hundreds' column. 4 + 1 = 5.

Moving left again into the 'thousands' column and you've got a sum that says

? - 2 = 8

We know that 10 - 2 = 8 (because we know that 2 + 8 = 10)

Again, you can't put a two digit number in one box, so you split the 10 into a 10 and a zero. Put the zero into the box above the 2 and add the 10 as a 1 into the next column along.

Now you need to deal with the final column, the 'ten thousands' column. You've got a sum there that says

? - 4 = 2

We know that's 6 - 4 = 2. But you now have to add the 1 that you brought over from the previous column to the 6, so the answer in that column is now 7.

Done!

It's all about remembering to deal with each column on its own before moving onto the next column. Always start on the left or it won't work. That's the same if you're adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing.

Hope that helps! It sounds complicated but as long as you follow all the steps in the right order it's easy enough!!

But that's right to left? Start with the ones and move up the place value columns.

Helpmechooseausername · 02/10/2025 21:37

Underthinker · 02/10/2025 21:33

This sounds good but don't you have your left and right mixed up?

Show quote history

😂😂😂 OMG I totally have!! (Sorry, I'm really tired) 😂😂

I'll edit my post now! Thanks for pointing it out!!

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2025 21:37

Helpmechooseausername · 02/10/2025 21:13

I've worked in year 6 for years. I love year 6 maths!! You should start at the left and work to the right. It's always like that in maths. Always work out each column at a time.

The 'ones' column on the left shows the sum

7 - 5 = 2

The next column across is the 'tens' column and has the sum

? - 3 = 9

We know that 12 - 3 = 9 (because we know that 9 + 3 = 12), so 12 goes above the 3 ... except that you can't put two digits in one box. You have to think of the 12 as 10 + 2. So you put 2 in the box above the 3 and the 10 becomes a 1 in the next column along to the left. (That column is the 'hundreds' column and is therefore worth ten times more than the 'tens' column, so the 10 doesn't need it's 0 when you move it along to the next column) (I can explain that more if you need me to!!)

So, you need to add that 1 to the 4 in the 'hundreds' column. 4 + 1 = 5.

Moving left again into the 'thousands' column and you've got a sum that says

? - 2 = 8

We know that 10 - 2 = 8 (because we know that 2 + 8 = 10)

Again, you can't put a two digit number in one box, so you split the 10 into a 10 and a zero. Put the zero into the box above the 2 and add the 10 as a 1 into the next column along.

Now you need to deal with the final column, the 'ten thousands' column. You've got a sum there that says

? - 4 = 2

We know that's 6 - 4 = 2. But you now have to add the 1 that you brought over from the previous column to the 6, so the answer in that column is now 7.

Done!

It's all about remembering to deal with each column on its own before moving onto the next column. Always start on the left or it won't work. That's the same if you're adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing.

Hope that helps! It sounds complicated but as long as you follow all the steps in the right order it's easy enough!!

Eh? Your explanation is right to left, yet you say start left and go right!

Helpmechooseausername · 02/10/2025 21:40

I'm so sorry, I can't edit my post!

Start at the RIGHT, move to the LEFT (I even checked I'd got it right this time by looking at my hands and knowing I write with my right hand 😂)

Sorry if that's confused people! The rest of what I was saying was right (and definitely not left!!)

ginginginnygin · 03/10/2025 14:12

I meant work RIGHT TO LEFT too! Doh!

Year 6 Maths Homework help!

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