Use Borrowing to Subtract Two-Digit Numbers from Three-Digit Numbers

In this activity, we will practise subtraction with borrowing.

Example

Subtract the numbers.

349 - 75 = ?

Answer

We set out a subtraction in columns.

We subtract the ones first.  Here we do 9 - 5 = 4.

Next, we have to borrow from the hundreds column and do 14 - 7 = 7 in the tens column.

Finally, there is 2 - 0 = 2 in the hundreds column.

Don't worry if this seems a bit tricky, we can do plenty of practice in the questions that follow.

If you want to look back at this example again, just click on the red help button that appears on the side of the screen during the questions.