Written subtraction
Practise careful regrouping so that subtraction such as 40,000 - 18,537 stays readable and checkable.
How to solve this
- Line up the columns before subtracting; the smaller number may have fewer digits but its ones still go under ones.
- If a column cannot be subtracted, regroup from the next available place. Across zeroes, move left until a non-zero digit can lend.
- Check subtraction by addition: if 40,000 - 18,537 = 21,463, then 21,463 + 18,537 must be 40,000.
Examples
7,305 - 2,846
4,459
40,000 - 18,537
21,463
9,002 - 4,875
4,127
Practice problems with answers
Solve these problems on paper or out loud, then check the answer key. The online practice and the printable worksheet give a new set every time.
16 114 - 14 697 = ___
43 322 - 42 031 = ___
16 733 - 3 470 = ___
75 076 - 18 268 = ___
9 425 - 5 257 = ___
56 353 - 22 947 = ___
70 090 - 9 927 = ___
47 366 - 19 993 = ___
Show answers
- 1 417
- 1 291
- 13 263
- 56 808
- 4 168
- 33 406
- 60 163
- 27 373