4-digit Column Subtraction Game

4-digit Game (Column Subtraction)
 
This game focuses on subtracting a 4-digit number from a 4-digit number. It will give a 4-digit top number (Minuend) and a 4-digit bottom number (Subtrahend). It has two difficulty levels: “No Borrowing” and “With Borrowing” modes. Scroll down the page for a more detailed explanation.

 

 

How to Play the 4-digit Column Subtractor Game

1. Select Difficulty: Select “No Borrowing” or “With Borrowing”.
   
2. Enter Your Answer: Subtract the digits in columns from right to left. Typing a number automatically moves the cursor to the next column to the left. If you chose regrouping then be careful to regroup when necessary. You can put the borrow digit at the top of the ones place to help you remember. (Take note that the game will not check your borrow digit)
   
3. Check Your Work: Click the green Check button (or press the Enter key). The game will tell you if you’re correct. If you are wrong, you will be asked to try again.
   
4. Get a New Problem: Click the Next button (or press Enter again) for a new subtraction problem.
   Your score is tracked at the top, showing how many you’ve gotten right out of the total you’ve tried.
    
   

Subtracting 4-Digit from 4-Digit Numbers
Subtracting 4-digit numbers requires aligning digits by their place value and using a technique called regrouping (often called “borrowing”) when the digit you are subtracting is larger than the digit above it.
 
Setting Up the Columns
Always align your numbers vertically. If the digit on top is smaller than the digit on the bottom, you must “borrow” $1$ from the next column to the left.

Step-by-Step Example (With Regrouping)
Let’s solve: 5,234 - 1,856
Step 1: Subtract the Ones
We have 4 - 6. Since 4 is smaller than 6, we borrow from the Tens column.
The 3 in the Tens column becomes a 2.
The 4 in the Ones column becomes 14.
14 - 6 = 8

Step 2: Subtract the Tens
We now have 2 - 5. Since 2 is smaller than 5, we borrow from the Hundreds column.
The 2 in the Hundreds column becomes a 1.
The 2 in the Tens column becomes 12.
12 - 5 = 7

Step 3: Subtract the Hundreds
Finally, subtract the remaining hundreds.
6 - 4 = 2.
Final Answer: 268.

Step 4: Subtract the Thousands
Finally, we have 4 - 1.
4 - 1 = 3
Final Answer: 3,378
 

Special Case: Subtracting Across Zeros
If you need to borrow but the next column is a 0, you must move further left to the first non-zero digit.
Example: 4,000 - 1,234
You can’t borrow from the Tens (0) or Hundreds (0).
Go to the Thousands: Change 4 to 3.
The Hundreds becomes 10, then you borrow to make it 9.
The Tens becomes 10, then you borrow to make it 9.
The Ones becomes 10.
Now subtract: 10-4=6, 9-3=6, 9-2=7, 3-1=2. Result: 2,766.
 

Summary Checklist

1. Align: Are the place values perfectly stacked?
   
2. Check Top-to-Bottom: If the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, you must borrow from the left.
   
3. Update Immediately: Cross out the number you borrowed from and write the new value above it so you don’t forget.
   
4. Verify: Add your answer to the bottom number. If it equals the top number, you are correct.
    
   

The video gives a clear, step-by-step approach to walk through the regrouping process for subtracting a 4-digit number from a 4-digit number.

• Show Video

 

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