Skip to content
< Back to Lessons
πŸ”’βž–

MULTI-DIGIT SUBTRACTION

Subtract large numbers column by column, borrowing across multiple places.

L4L5L6
CS.N.4.2(IV)
Section 1 / 3
REGROUPING (BORROWING)

Write the numbers in columns: units, tens, hundreds. Subtract from right to left. When the top digit is smaller than the bottom, borrow 1 from the column to the left - this is called regrouping. The left column goes down by 1, and your digit gets 10 more. Follow each step carefully!

534 βˆ’ 268
1 5 3 4
2βˆ’ 2 6 8
3------
4Start from the right:
5Units: 4 < 8 > can't subtract, so borrow 1 from tens.
6 The 3 tens become 2, and 4 units become 14.
7 14 βˆ’ 8 = 6 βœ“
8Tens: 2 < 6 > borrow 1 from hundreds.
9 The 5 hundreds become 4, and 2 tens become 12.
10 12 βˆ’ 6 = 6 βœ“
11Hundreds: 4 βˆ’ 2 = 2 βœ“
12------
13 2 6 6 Answer: 266
= 266
752 βˆ’ 386
1 7 5 2
2βˆ’ 3 8 6
3------
4Units: 2 < 6 > borrow 1 from tens.
5 5 tens > 4, units: 12 βˆ’ 6 = 6 βœ“
6Tens: 4 < 8 > borrow 1 from hundreds.
7 7 hundreds > 6, tens: 14 βˆ’ 8 = 6 βœ“
8Hundreds: 6 βˆ’ 3 = 3 βœ“
9------
10 3 6 6 Answer: 366
= 366

LEADER TIP

Graph paper helps keep columns aligned. For numbers with zeros, practice the 'borrowing across zeros' pattern explicitly.

BEFORE THIS LESSON, TRY

πŸ”€Regrouping (Borrowing)

PRACTICE WITH THESE GAMES

🎯Subtraction QuizπŸƒFast SubtractionοΏ½Calc Cascade

Want more practice? Generate printable worksheets with similar problems.

Go to Worksheets

What would you like to share?

Sending as guest

Randomizer