Add Two Four-digit Numbers

​In this activity, we are going to practise adding two 4-digit numbers.

We are not going to be doing any exchanging (or carrying) - you can try some other activities with exchanging when you feel confident.

Top Tips:

Write each digit clearly.

Check the digits are in the correct order (it is easy to muddle them up!)

Make sure each digit is in the correct column.

It can be useful to use squared paper if you are writing out the questions.

Example

6,474 + 2,322 = 

We set out the question as shown in the example above.

Each digit must go in the correct column as shown.

In this method, we are actually going to start at the left-hand column and work to the right finishing at the ones column.

In this question, we have a 6 and a 2 (6,000 and 2,000).  We add these and write the whole number (8,000) below as shown.

We then add the hundreds, followed by tens, and finally the ones.

We write them out as shown.

We then add each column - as we can see above.

The answer is 8,796

Now why don't we have a go at answering some questions using this method?