Grade 3 Subtraction: 4-Digit Subtraction

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   8950 − 974 = ?

   1. Line up the numbers by place value and subtract each column from right to left.
   2. Ones: 0 is less than 4, so borrow 1 from the tens: 10 − 4 = 6.
   3. Tens: 5 lent 1, so it is now 4. 4 is less than 7, so borrow 1 from the hundreds: 14 − 7 = 7.
   4. Hundreds: 9 lent 1, so it is now 8. 8 is less than 9, so borrow 1 from the thousands: 18 − 9 = 9.
   5. Thousands: 8 lent 1, so it is now 7. 7 − 0 = 7.
   6. 8950 − 974 = 7976

   Answer: 7976

2. Example 2

   9065 − 233 = ?

   1. Line up the numbers by place value and subtract each column from right to left.
   2. Ones: 5 − 3 = 2.
   3. Tens: 6 − 3 = 3.
   4. Hundreds: 0 is less than 2, so borrow 1 from the thousands: 10 − 2 = 8.
   5. Thousands: 9 lent 1, so it is now 8. 8 − 0 = 8.
   6. 9065 − 233 = 8832

   Answer: 8832

3. Example 3

   5828 − 1768 = ?

   1. Line up the numbers by place value and subtract each column from right to left.
   2. Ones: 8 − 8 = 0.
   3. Tens: 2 is less than 6, so borrow 1 from the hundreds: 12 − 6 = 6.
   4. Hundreds: 8 lent 1, so it is now 7. 7 − 7 = 0.
   5. Thousands: 5 − 1 = 4.
   6. 5828 − 1768 = 4060

   Answer: 4060