Max Maths, Year 4, Work Book, Subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers using counting blocks and column method (2)

In the Max Maths Year 4 workbook, students are presented with engaging word problems to practice their subtraction skills in a real-world context. The first problem involves comparing the heights of two famous skyscrapers: The Shard in London and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Students are asked to calculate the difference in height between these two buildings. To solve this, they need to subtract the height of The Shard, which is 306 metres, from the height of the Burj Khalifa, standing at 830 metres. By using a model to visualise the problem, students can easily see the subtraction required to find out how much taller the Burj Khalifa is than The Shard.

The second problem in the workbook takes students into the animal kingdom, where they must figure out the mass of a lion, given the combined mass of a polar bear and a lion, along with the mass of the polar bear alone. The total mass for both animals is given as 585 kg, and the mass of the polar bear is 278 kg. Students are encouraged to draw a model to represent the problem and then subtract the mass of the polar bear from the total mass to discover the mass of the lion. This exercise not only tests their subtraction skills but also helps to enhance their problem-solving abilities by applying mathematics to practical situations.