Grade 3 Math

Column subtraction (no borrow)

Column subtraction (no borrow) helps children practise setting out three-digit subtractions in column form and subtracting digit by digit — no borrowing needed. Read the short guide and look through the examples before choosing online practice or a printable worksheet.

How to solve this

  • Column subtraction without borrowing: align the digits and subtract each column independently from right to left.
  • Since every digit in the top row is greater than or equal to the digit below, no borrowing is needed.
  • Check by adding the result to the subtracted number — you must get the starting number back.

Examples

489 − 234 −−− ???

255

756 − 312 −−− ???

444