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CBSE Class 3 Mathematics★ 6–8 marks · CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Math-Magic) Chapter 6

Fun with Give and Take

More addition and subtraction — using algorithms, borrowing and carrying. Real-life word problems involving buying and selling. CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Math-Magic) Chapter 6.

⏱ 10 min readMedium difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Add 3-digit numbers with multiple carries (e.g., 456 + 238 = 694)
2Subtract 3-digit numbers with multiple borrows (e.g., 600 − 245 = 355)
3Solve word problems involving buying and selling — finding total cost, change, and comparing prices
4Apply the 'give and take' mental strategy: 99 + 47 = 100 + 47 − 1 = 146 (borrow 1 to make a round number)
5Check subtraction using addition: difference + subtrahend = minuend

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Why this chapter matters

This chapter builds on Give and Take (Ch.3) with more complex addition and subtraction — larger numbers, multiple carries/borrows, and real-world word problems involving buying, selling, and money transactions. The 'give and take' metaphor (borrowing is 'taking' from the next column, carrying is 'giving' to the next column) makes regrouping intuitive. Fluency in these operations is non-negotiable for all future math.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 3 Mathematics Chapter 3: Give and Take

Must be comfortable with basic carrying and borrowing before attempting multiple carries/borrows.

Fun with Give and Take

Review: Addition and Subtraction

Let's review what we learned in 'Give and Take' (Chapter 3) and go DEEPER.

Addition Reminder

We add when we want to find the TOTAL.

Subtraction Reminder

We subtract when we want to find the DIFFERENCE or what is LEFT.

Column Addition (Algorithm)

The COLUMN METHOD means lining up numbers by their PLACE VALUE.

Steps

Write numbers one BELOW the other
Line up HUNDREDS under HUNDREDS, TENS under TENS, ONES under ONES
Start from the ONES column (RIGHT side)
If a column sums to 10 or more, CARRY to the next column

Example 1: 456 + 238

   456
+  238
------
   694

Step by step:

Ones: 6 + 8 = 14. Write 4, carry 1 to tens.
Tens: 5 + 3 + 1(carry) = 9. Write 9.
Hundreds: 4 + 2 = 6. Write 6.
Answer: 694

Example 2: 789 + 167

   789
+  167
------
   956

Step by step:

Ones: 9 + 7 = 16. Write 6, carry 1.
Tens: 8 + 6 + 1 = 15. Write 5, carry 1.
Hundreds: 7 + 1 + 1 = 9. Write 9.
Answer: 956

Example 3: 555 + 555

   555
+  555
------
  1110

Ones: 5 + 5 = 10. Write 0, carry 1.
Tens: 5 + 5 + 1 = 11. Write 1, carry 1.
Hundreds: 5 + 5 + 1 = 11. Write 1, carry 1.
Thousands: 1.
Answer: 1110

Column Subtraction (Algorithm)

Steps

Write numbers one BELOW the other (bigger number on TOP)
Line up by place value
Start from ONES column (RIGHT side)
If top digit is SMALLER, BORROW from the next column

Example 1: 634 - 287

   634
-  287
------
   347

Step by step:

Ones: 4 is smaller than 7. Borrow 1 from tens. 4 becomes 14. Tens: 3 becomes 2. 14 - 7 = 7.
Tens: 2 is smaller than 8. Borrow 1 from hundreds. 2 becomes 12. Hundreds: 6 becomes 5. 12 - 8 = 4.
Hundreds: 5 - 2 = 3.
Answer: 347

Example 2: 800 - 456

   800
-  456
------
   344

Step by step:

Ones: 0 is smaller than 6. Borrow from tens — but tens is also 0! Borrow from hundreds.
- Hundreds: 8 becomes 7. Tens: 0 becomes 10.
- Now borrow from tens for ones. Tens: 10 becomes 9. Ones: 0 becomes 10.
- 10 - 6 = 4.
Tens: 9 - 5 = 4.
Hundreds: 7 - 4 = 3.
Answer: 344

Example 3: 1000 - 567

  1000
-  567
------
   433

Step by step: Borrow all the way from the thousands place!

Thousands: 1 becomes 0.
Hundreds: 0 becomes 10.
Borrow from hundreds for tens: 10 becomes 9, tens become 10.
Borrow from tens for ones: 10 becomes 9, ones become 10.
Ones: 10 - 7 = 3.
Tens: 9 - 6 = 3.
Hundreds: 9 - 5 = 4.
Answer: 433

Checking Your Answer

For Addition

Subtract one addend from the sum. You should get the OTHER addend.

Check: 456 + 238 = 694

694 - 456 = 238 ✓
694 - 238 = 456 ✓

For Subtraction

Add the difference to the subtrahend (the number subtracted). You should get the ORIGINAL number.

Check: 634 - 287 = 347

347 + 287 = 634 ✓

Real-Life Word Problems

Problem 1: Buying a Bicycle

Ravi wants to buy a bicycle that costs ₹2,345. He has saved ₹1,678. How much MORE does he need?

Solution: ₹2,345 - ₹1,678 = ₹667 Ravi needs ₹667 more.

Problem 2: Selling Vegetables

A farmer sells 456 kg of potatoes on Monday and 589 kg on Tuesday. How many kg did he sell in TOTAL?

Solution: 456 + 589 = 1,045 kg The farmer sold 1,045 kg of potatoes.

Problem 3: School Library

A school library has 1,200 books. 678 books are borrowed by students. How many books are LEFT?

Solution: 1,200 - 678 = 522 books 522 books are left in the library.

Problem 4: Birthday Party

For her birthday, Anu makes 234 gulab jamuns. Her neighbours bring 189 more. How many gulab jamuns in TOTAL?

Solution: 234 + 189 = 423 gulab jamuns.

Problem 5: Train Journey

A train has 890 passengers. At a station, 234 passengers get off and 156 new passengers get on. How many passengers are now on the train?

Solution:

After getting off: 890 - 234 = 656
After getting on: 656 + 156 = 812
Answer: 812 passengers.

Buying and Selling

Profit and Loss (Simple Introduction)

COST PRICE: How much you PAID for something
SELLING PRICE: How much you SOLD it for
PROFIT: Selling price > Cost price (you earned money)
LOSS: Selling price < Cost price (you lost money)

Example

Riya buys a toy for ₹150 and sells it for ₹200.

Profit = ₹200 - ₹150 = ₹50

Rahul buys a pen for ₹50 and sells it for ₹35.

Loss = ₹50 - ₹35 = ₹15

Shop Activity

Pretend you are a SHOPKEEPER:

You buy 5 pencils for ₹10 each. Total spent: ₹50
You sell each pencil for ₹15. Total earned: ₹75
Profit: ₹75 - ₹50 = ₹25

Common Mistakes

'Adding from left to right.' — Always start from the ONES column (rightmost). This makes carrying easier.
'Forgetting to reduce the borrowed digit.' — After borrowing, the digit in the next column REDUCES by 1.
'1000 - 1 = 990.' — No! 1000 - 1 = 999. Think: if you have 1000 rupees and spend 1 rupee, you have 999 rupees.
'In subtraction, the smaller number can be on top.' — Always put the BIGGER number on top when subtracting. 234 - 567 does NOT make sense in real life!
'Not checking the answer.' — Always CHECK: add the difference to check subtraction, subtract one part from the total to check addition.

Quick Self-Test

Q1: 567 + 345 = ? A1: 912.

Q2: 800 - 234 = ? A2: 566.

Q3: A shopkeeper has 456 eggs. He sells 289 eggs. How many eggs are left? A3: 456 - 289 = 167 eggs.

Q4: Rohan has ₹500. He buys a book for ₹175 and a pen for ₹85. How much money does he have left? A4: ₹175 + ₹85 = ₹260 spent. ₹500 - ₹260 = ₹240 left.

Q5: A bus has 45 passengers. At the first stop, 12 get off and 8 get on. How many passengers now? A5: 45 - 12 = 33. 33 + 8 = 41 passengers.

Q6: Check: Is 567 - 234 = 333 correct? A6: 333 + 234 = 567. Yes, it is CORRECT!

Q7: 345 + 289 = ? A7: 634.

Q8: A farmer has 780 mangoes. He sells 345 in the morning and 289 in the afternoon. How many are left? A8: 345 + 289 = 634 sold. 780 - 634 = 146 mangoes left.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Addition with multiple carries

Example: 456 + 238. Ones: 6+8=14, write 4, carry 1. Tens: 5+3+1=9, write 9. Hundreds: 4+2=6. Answer: 694. Example with double carry: 487 + 376. Ones: 7+6=13 (write 3, carry 1). Tens: 8+7+1=16 (write 6, carry 1). Hundreds: 4+3+1=8. Answer: 863.

Always add from RIGHT to LEFT. Write carries clearly above the next column. Double-check by estimating.

Subtraction with borrowing across zero

Example: 600 − 245. Ones: 0−5 not possible. Tens is also 0 — cannot borrow directly. Go to hundreds: borrow 1 from 6→5. Now tens becomes 10. Then borrow 1 from tens (10→9) for ones. Ones: 10−5=5. Tens: 9−4=5. Hundreds: 5−2=3. Answer: 355.

Borrowing across zero is the trickiest subtraction skill. Practice specifically: 500−__, 600−__, 700−__.

Money word problems

Total cost = cost of item 1 + cost of item 2 + ... · Change = money given − total cost · Money left = starting money − money spent · More expensive by = price of A − price of B. Always write ₹ before the amount.

Money problems make math real. Use actual ₹ notes and coins for hands-on practice.

Give and take mental strategy

To add 99: add 100 and subtract 1 (99+47 = 100+47−1 = 146). To add 98: add 100 and subtract 2. To subtract 99: subtract 100 and add 1 (345−99 = 345−100+1 = 246). The idea: make a 'friendly' round number, then adjust.

This strategy builds number sense and mental agility. It's the foundation of flexible mental computation.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ When borrowing across zero, reducing 600 to 5 in hundreds but forgetting tens becomes 10, then 9

✓ When borrowing across zero: step by step. 600 → borrow from hundreds: 5 hundreds, 10 tens → borrow from tens: 9 tens, 10 ones. Practice with physical bundles: 6 hundred-flats, break one into 10 ten-sticks, break one ten-stick into 10 ones.

WATCH OUT

✗ In word problems, not writing ₹ before the answer

✓ If the problem involves rupees, ALWAYS write ₹ before the number. ₹245, not just 245. The ₹ sign tells the reader it's money.

WATCH OUT

✗ Misreading: 'How much more is A than B?' → adding instead of subtracting

✓ 'How much MORE' always means subtract (bigger − smaller). 'Total' or 'altogether' means add. Underline the key word in the problem before solving.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Addition and subtraction practice

Column addition/subtraction with multiple carries/borrows; borrowing across zero; checking subtraction with addition

Questions

Word problems (money)

Buying and selling — total cost, change, comparing prices; real-life shopping scenarios

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1MEDIUM· Addition

Add: 487 + 376 = ?

▶ Show solution

487 + 376 = 863. (Ones: 7+6=13, write 3, carry 1. Tens: 8+7+1=16, write 6, carry 1. Hundreds: 4+3+1=8.)

Q2HARD· Subtraction

Subtract: 700 − 368 = ?

▶ Show solution

700 − 368 = 332. (Ones: 0−8: borrow from hundreds → 6 hundreds, 10 tens, then borrow for ones → 9 tens, 10 ones. Ones: 10−8=2. Tens: 9−6=3. Hundreds: 6−3=3.)

Q3MEDIUM· Word Problem

A toy car costs ₹275 and a toy train costs ₹389. What is the total cost? If you pay ₹700, how much change will you get?

▶ Show solution

Total cost = ₹275 + ₹389 = ₹664. Change = ₹700 − ₹664 = ₹36.

Q4EASY· Mental Math

Use the 'give and take' trick: 99 + 56 = ?

▶ Show solution

99 + 56 = 100 + 56 − 1 = 156 − 1 = 155. (Give 1 to 99 to make 100, then take back that 1 at the end.)

Q5MEDIUM· Check

Add 345 and 278. Then check your answer by estimation.

▶ Show solution

345 + 278 = 623. Check by rounding: 345→350, 278→280. 350+280=630. 623 is very close to 630, so the answer is likely correct.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Column method: line up H, T, O. Start from ONES (right). Carry if sum ≥ 10. Borrow if top < bottom
•Borrowing across zero (e.g., 600−245): go to the first non-zero column, borrow from there, convert step by step
•Money problems: write ₹. Total = add. Change = money given − total. Left = starting − spent
•Give and take trick: 99+47 = 100+47−1; 345−99 = 345−100+1 — make a round number, then adjust
•Always check subtraction: (answer + subtracted number) should equal the original number
•Estimate by rounding to nearest ten/hundred — tells you if your answer is 'in the ballpark'

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6–8 marks in Class 3 Mathematics assessment

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Direct sum (2 marks each)	2	2	Addition with multiple carries; subtraction with borrowing across zero
Word problem (2 marks)	2	1–2	Money/buying-selling scenarios — total cost, change, comparison
Mental math (1 mark)	1	1	Give and take strategy (99+__, 98+__, 100−__)

Prep strategy

Practice borrowing across zero specifically: give 5 sums daily like 500−237, 600−458, 400−189
Set up a 'shop' at home: price toys/books, use play money — let child be cashier and customer
Always verify subtraction: answer + subtracted number = original number. Make it a habit
Play 'mental give and take': call out 99+34, 98+67, 345−99 — make it a quick-response game
For borrowing struggles, draw the H-T-O columns and physically 'move' 1 hundred = 10 tens, 1 ten = 10 ones

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