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Year 3 · Subtraction
Subtract 3-digit numbers
Two ways to subtract 523 − 268: jump back along a number line in easy steps (you can see the number shrinking), or line the digits up in columns.
How to do it
- Method 1, jumps: start at the first number.
- Jump by the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones of the second number.
- Where you land is the answer.
- Method 2, columns: subtract the ones. If the top digit is smaller, borrow 1 from the next column (it becomes 10 more).
- Subtract the next column, remembering any borrow. Keep going left.
Two ways to do it
Method 1: Jumps
Start at 523. Jump back by 200, then 60, then 8.
523 − 268
523 − 200 = 323
323 − 60 = 263
263 − 8 = 255
523 − 268 = 255
Method 2: Columns
Line up the digits. Subtract each column from the right, borrowing when the top digit is smaller.
523 − 268
Work right to left, one column at a time.
523 − 268 = 255
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Watch outAfter borrowing, the digit you borrowed from is one smaller.
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