How to explain subtract multiples of 100 in mental addition & subtraction to your child: Example question
30 October 2026
When children learn to subtract multiples of 100 in their heads, it helps them spot patterns and understand place value. This skill is handy for quick mental maths and builds confidence for harder questions later on.
Example question
Subtract 500 from 1,400.
Step 1: Look at the number 1,400.
Step 2: Notice you need to subtract 500, which is 5 hundreds.
Step 3: Subtract 5 hundreds from 1,400.
Step 4: 1,400 - 500 = 900.
Answer: 900
After working through this example, your child will see how subtracting hundreds is about removing groups of 100 from a larger number. They will be ready to try similar subtraction questions on their own and practise this useful mental maths skill.
