Standard 3 Maths

Adding 4-Digit Numbers – Standard 3 Maths

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What you will learn

  • Add numbers with up to four digits using the column method.
  • Carry when a column adds up to 10 or more.
  • Add three or four numbers and solve number stories.

Adding big numbers in your head is hard, but the column method makes it easy. You add one column at a time, starting with the ones. In this lesson you will add numbers up to 9 999, the way you will do it in class tests.

A small wooden abacus with rows of coloured beads on wires
An abacus is an old counting frame. When a row of ten beads is full, you move one bead on the next row instead. That is carrying. Photo: Deinodactyla, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Line up the columns

Write the numbers one under the other so the ones, tens, hundreds and thousands are in straight columns. Start adding on the right, with the ones.

Worked example 1

3 214 + 4 352

Show me how

Ones: 4 + 2 = 6. Tens: 1 + 5 = 6.

Hundreds: 2 + 3 = 5. Thousands: 3 + 4 = 7.

The answer is 7 566. No column made 10 or more, so there was nothing to carry.

Carrying

When a column adds up to 10 or more, you cannot fit it in one place. Write the ones digit and carry the ten to the next column. Ten ones make 1 ten, ten tens make 1 hundred, and ten hundreds make 1 thousand.

Worked example 2

3 456 + 2 189

Show me how

Ones: 6 + 9 = 15. Write 5, carry 1 ten.

Tens: 5 + 8 + 1 = 14. Write 4, carry 1 hundred.

Hundreds: 4 + 1 + 1 = 6. Write 6. Thousands: 3 + 2 = 5.

The answer is 5 645.

Watch out! A common mistake

Do not forget the number you carried. Write it small at the top of the next column, then add it in. Also keep the columns straight: in 2 507 + 86, the 6 goes under the 7, not under the 2.

Three or more numbers and number stories

You can add three or four numbers in the same way. Add every digit in the column, plus anything you carried. Sometimes you carry 2.

Worked example 3

A shop sold 1 275 doubles on Friday, 2 348 on Saturday and 896 on Sunday. How many in all?

Show me how

Write 1 275 + 2 348 + 896 in columns. Ones: 5 + 8 + 6 = 19. Write 9, carry 1.

Tens: 7 + 4 + 9 + 1 = 21. Write 1, carry 2.

Hundreds: 2 + 3 + 8 + 2 = 15. Write 5, carry 1. Thousands: 1 + 2 + 1 = 4.

The shop sold 4 519 doubles.

Words like altogether, in all, total and more often tell you to add. Always write your answer in a sentence.

Try it

TRY ITColumn addition, step by step

Work one column at a time, starting with the ones. Tap the digit you write in the yellow column. Carried digits appear at the top.

Let’s practise

Work out each one in your copybook. Open Hint if you are stuck, then open Show answer to check your working.

1. 2 415 + 3 263

Hint

No carrying needed.

Show answer

5 678

2. 4 527 + 2 345

Hint

Ones: 7 + 5 = 12.

Show answer

6 872 (carry 1 ten)

3. 1 768 + 3 456

Hint

You carry three times.

Show answer

5 224

4. 3 090 + 2 815

Hint

Watch the zeros.

Show answer

5 905

5. 6 342 + 875

Hint

Line up the ones: the 5 goes under the 2.

Show answer

7 217

6. 1 205 + 2 130 + 3 452

Hint

Add three digits in each column.

Show answer

6 787

7. Mr Ali drove 2 486 km in March and 3 158 km in April. How far did he drive in the two months?

Hint

Add the two distances.

Show answer

2 486 + 3 158 = 5 644. He drove 5 644 km.

8. Write your own number story for 1 500 + 2 750, then solve it.

Hint

Use a word like altogether or total.

Show answer

Many stories are possible. The answer is 4 250.

Quiz

Lesson quiz: 10 questions

Answer every question, then press Check my answers. Score 8 or more to earn the Column Adder badge.

Recap

  • Line up ones, tens, hundreds and thousands in columns.
  • Start adding with the ones on the right.
  • If a column makes 10 or more, write the ones digit and carry to the next column.
  • Add three or four numbers the same way.
  • In number stories, words like altogether and total mean add. Answer in a sentence.

Words to know

sum
The answer when you add.
Example: The sum of 2 000 and 500 is 2 500.
column
A line of digits going down, all with the same place value.
Example: The 6 and 9 are in the ones column.
carry
Move a ten to the next column on the left.
Example: 6 + 9 = 15, so write 5 and carry 1.
total
The amount you get when everything is added.
Example: The total number of pupils is 1 240.
altogether
Everything put together.
Example: We sold 300 tickets altogether.

Try it at home

  • Look at a shopping bill or a newspaper. Find two big numbers and add them with the column method. Check with a calculator if an adult has one.
  • Mini project: write three number stories that need adding, one about your school, one about a sport and one about food. Solve each one and ask someone at home to check.

Test tips

Tips for class tests

  • Write the numbers neatly in columns. Use squared paper if you can.
  • Write the carried digit small at the top of the next column so you do not forget it.
  • If the question is a story, underline the numbers and the word that tells you to add.

For parents and teachers

After this lesson, your child should be able to:

  • add numbers with up to four digits, with totals below 10 000, using the column method;
  • carry correctly from the ones, tens and hundreds;
  • add three or four numbers and solve and write number stories.

If your child makes mistakes, use bundles of straws or the place-value builder from Lesson 2 to show why ten ones become one ten. Checking answers is covered in Lesson 9.

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Previous: Number Sentences with a Missing Number – Standard 3 Maths
Next: Subtracting 4-Digit Numbers – Standard 3 Maths
Course: Standard 3 Maths

Updates

2026/11/04
– First version of this lesson.

Attributions to media used in this post:

20th Century Small Wooden Abacus.jpg – Deinodactyla – CC0 1.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.

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