Subtract 1,000 from a Four-Digit Number

When we subtract 1,000 from a four-digit number, we need to decrease the digit in the thousands column by 1.

Here is the number 4,705 shown on an abacus.

Notice that the abacus says units. Units are another word for ones. 

When we subtract 1,000 from it, we take away one digit from the thousands column.

4,705 - 1,000 = 3,705

Example 1

Subtract 1,000 from:

5,097

Answer

We decrease the 5 in the thousands column by 1 to get 4 in that column.

5,097 - 1,000 = 4,097

Example 2

Subtract 1,000 from:

1,060

Answer

We decrease the 1 in the thousands column by 1 to get 0 in that column.

Remember to leave off any zeros on the left-hand side of a number.

1,060 - 1,000 = 0060 = 60

Does that make sense?

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