3-digit - 2-digit Column Subtraction Game

3-digit - 2-digit Game (Column Subtraction)
 
This game focuses on subtracting a 2-digit number from a 3-digit number. It will give a 3-digit top number (Minuend) and a 2-digit bottom number (Subtrahend). It has two difficulty levels: “No Borrowing” and “With Borrowing” modes. Scroll down the page for a more detailed explanation.

 

 

How to Play the 3-digit - 2-digit Column Subtractor Game

1. Select Difficulty: Select “No Borrowing” or “With Borrowing”.
   
2. Enter Your Answer: Subtract the digits in columns from right to left. Typing a number automatically moves the cursor to the next column to the left. If you chose regrouping then be careful to regroup when necessary. You can put the borrow digit at the top of the ones place to help you remember. (Take note that the game will not check your borrow digit)
   
3. Check Your Work: Click the green Check button (or press the Enter key). The game will tell you if you’re correct. If you are wrong, you will be asked to try again.
   
4. Get a New Problem: Click the Next button (or press Enter again) for a new subtraction problem.
   Your score is tracked at the top, showing how many you’ve gotten right out of the total you’ve tried.
    
   

Subtracting 2-Digit from 3-Digit Numbers
When subtracting a 2-digit number from a 3-digit number (like 145 - 67), the most important rule is alignment. You must ensure the place values match up before you begin.
 
Setting Up the Columns
Always align the numbers to the right. This ensures that the Ones are under the Ones and the Tens are under the Tens. The Hundreds place in the bottom number will be empty (treated as a 0)

Step-by-Step Process: 145 - 67
Step 1: The Ones Column
Look at the ones: 5 - 7. Since 7 is larger than 5, we must borrow from the Tens column.
The 4 in the Tens place becomes a 3.
The 5 in the Ones place becomes 15.
15 - 7 = 8.
Step 2: The Tens Column
Now look at the tens: 3 - 6 (remember, the 4 is now a 3). Since 6 is larger than 3, we must borrow from the Hundreds column.
The 1 in the Hundreds place becomes a 0.
The 3 in the Tens place becomes 13.
13 - 6 = 7.
Step 3: The Hundreds Column
Look at the hundreds: The 1 was borrowed, so it is now 0. There is nothing left to subtract.
0 - 0 = 0.
Final Answer: 78.
 

The “Borrowing Twice” Rule
Sometimes you have to borrow from the Tens, and the Tens has to borrow from the Hundreds. This is common when the 3-digit number is “bottom-heavy” in the smaller place values.
Example: 213 - 45
Ones: 3 < 5. Borrow from Tens. Tens (1) becomes 0. Ones (3) becomes 13.
13 - 5 = 8
Tens: 0 < 4. Borrow from Hundreds. Hundreds (2) becomes 1. Tens (0) becomes 10.
10 - 4 = 6
Hundreds: Bring down the remaining 1.
Result: 168
 

Subtracting from Zeros
If the 3-digit number has zeros (like 200 - 45), you have to “hop” over to the Hundreds to start your borrowing.
Start at the Hundreds: Change 20 to 19.
Subtract:
Ones: 10 - 5 = 5
Tens: 9 - 4 = 5
Hundreds: 1 - 0 = 1
Result: 155.
 

Things to Remember
To make sure you didn’t make a borrowing mistake, add your answer to the small number. If 155 + 45 = 200, you know your subtraction is correct.
 

The video gives a clear, step-by-step approach to walk through the regrouping process for subtracting a 2-digit number from a 3-digit number.

• Show Video

 

Try out our new and fun Fraction Concoction Game.

Add and subtract fractions to make exciting fraction concoctions following a recipe. There are four levels of difficulty: Easy, medium, hard and insane. Practice the basics of fraction addition and subtraction or challenge yourself with the insane level.

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.