Subtracting numbers with 3 or more digits using the column method with borrowing (decomposition).
Where your child meets this in real life: Working out change, finding differences in distances, or calculating how much more is needed
SEAGReady breaks column subtraction into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Subtract 3+ digit numbers using column method when each top digit is larger than the bottom digit
Subtract 3+ digit numbers when borrowing (decomposition) is needed from adjacent columns
Subtract when borrowing must cross one or more zeros (e.g., 1003 - 456)
Three free sample questions from our column subtraction course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Sean has saved 986 trading cards. He gives 453 cards to his younger brother. How many cards does Sean have left?
Answer: A. 533 cards
Set up the column subtraction: 986 - 453 ------ Ones: 6 - 3 = 3 Tens: 8 - 5 = 3 Hundreds: 9 - 4 = 5 Answer: 533 cards
Stuck? Start here: Set up the column method with the larger number on top.
A school has 532 exercise books. They give out 278 books to pupils. How many books are left?
Answer: A. 254 books
Set up 532 - 278: Ones: 2 - 8? Cannot do! Borrow from tens. 3 becomes 2, and 2 becomes 12 12 - 8 = 4 Tens: 2 - 7? Cannot do! Borrow from hundreds. 5 becomes 4, and 2 becomes 12 12 - 7 = 5 Hundreds: 4 - 2 = 2 Answer: 254 books
Stuck? Start here: Can we subtract 8 from 2 in the ones column? No! We need to borrow.
Emma has 3004 stickers. She gives 1578 stickers to her friends. How many stickers does Emma have left?
Answer: A. 1426 stickers
Set up 3004 - 1578: Ones: 4 - 8? Cannot! Need to borrow, but tens is 0. Hundreds is also 0! Borrow from thousands: 3 becomes 2, first 0 becomes 10 10 becomes 9, second 0 becomes 10 10 becomes 9, 4 becomes 14 Now subtract: 14 - 8 = 6 9 - 7 = 2 9 - 5 = 4 2 - 1 = 1 Answer: 1426 stickers
Stuck? Start here: 4 - 8 in ones? Cannot! But tens is 0. Go to hundreds... also 0! Go to thousands.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Cillian has saved £875 for a new bicycle. He spends £342 on accessories.
How much money does Cillian have left?
875 − 342
Step 1 of 5
Cillian has saved £875 for a new bicycle. He spends £342 on accessories.
How much money does Cillian have left?
Cillian has £533 left.
The key insight: When the top digit is always bigger, just subtract column by column!
Watch out: Writing 875 − 342 with digits misaligned (e.g., 875 over 342 shifted). Each column must line up by place value or you subtract the wrong values.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in column subtraction, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with column subtraction? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.