Year 6 - Maths
Use equivalence and compensation strategies to solve subtraction problems in a range of contexts
Use equivalence and compensation to simplify and solve subtraction problems
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will explain how increasing or decreasing the minuend affects the difference and solve subtraction calculations mentally by using known facts explaining how adjusting the minuend can make mental calculation easier.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use equivalence and compensation strategies to solve subtraction problems in a range of contexts.
Key Notes
- Compensation can be used to solve subtraction calculations.
- Equivalence can be used to solve subtraction calculations.
- Look at the numbers and decide on the most efficient strategy to use.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Difference: The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another.
- Adjust: When you adjust you make a change to a number. This is done to make a calculation easier to solve mentally.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Lots of children have an understanding of goal difference from experiences outside the classroom but this might be the first time some children have encountered it and it may cause confusion.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
Compensation can be used to solve subtraction calculations. Equivalence can be used to solve subtraction calculations.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Difference'
The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Lots of children have an understanding of goal difference from experiences outside the classroom but this might be the first time some children have encountered it and it may cause confusion. Correction: Consider pre-teaching if that is a possibility or introduce it in a PE context to begin with. You could even keep score of any playtime games for the days leading up to the lesson to give some real life context.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Calculate the difference using knowledge of an adjusted subtrahend: difference structure Study Guide
- Explain and represent constant difference for subtraction Study Guide
- Explain how adjusting the minuend can make mental calculation easier Study Guide
- Explain how adjusting the subtrahend affects the difference: partitioning Study Guide
- Explain how adjusting the subtrahend affects the difference: reduction structure Study Guide
- Explain how constant difference can make written calculations more efficient Study Guide
- Explain how increasing or decreasing the minuend affects the difference Study Guide
- Solve subtraction calculations mentally by using known facts Study Guide
- Use constant difference to balance equations and find unknowns Study Guide
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