Max Maths, Year 4, Try it, Bridging 100s

In the 'Try It' section of Max Maths for Year 4, students are encouraged to develop their mental arithmetic skills by calculating sums and differences that involve bridging hundreds. The exercises are designed to help pupils practice adding and subtracting numbers just below or just above multiples of one hundred. For example, in question (a), 298 + 8, children are prompted to recognise that adding 8 to 298 brings them to the next hundred, resulting in 306. Similarly, in question (d), 501 − 4, learners would identify that subtracting 4 from 501 takes them back one hundred, leaving them with 497. Students are asked to jot down their mental strategies, fostering an understanding of number relationships and aiding them in developing quick calculation techniques.

The 'Let's Practise' section continues to reinforce mental maths strategies, encouraging students to find answers without writing down full calculations. This time, they have the option to use a number line to visualise the process if needed. The questions vary in complexity, with some requiring simple addition or subtraction, such as 199 + 7, while others involve crossing the hundred boundary, such as 199 − 39. This exercise not only strengthens mental computation skills but also enhances number sense, particularly around the concept of place value and the significance of crossing over a hundred. Students are directed to continue their practice on workbook page 37, ensuring they have ample opportunity to master these essential mathematical skills.