Column Subtraction - 2 Digit Numbers from 3 Digit Numbers - Free Printable

Let’s solve each subtraction problem step by step. Remember, we’re subtracting 2-digit numbers from 3-digit numbers, and sometimes we need to “exchange” (also called borrowing) when the top digit is smaller than the bottom one.

We’ll go row by row, left to right.

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Row 1:

1. 545 – 18
Start from the ones place: 5 – 8 → can’t do! So borrow 1 from tens.
Tens digit is 4 → becomes 3, ones become 15.
15 – 8 = 7
Now tens: 3 – 1 = 2
Hundreds: 5 stays → 5
✔ Answer: 527

2. 861 – 29
Ones: 1 – 9 → borrow from tens. Tens is 6 → becomes 5, ones become 11.
11 – 9 = 2
Tens: 5 – 2 = 3
Hundreds: 8 → 8
✔ Answer: 832

3. 11 – 48 → Wait, this looks wrong. You can’t subtract a bigger number from a smaller one in basic grade math like this — but looking at the layout, maybe it’s misaligned? Actually, checking the original image again — no, it says “11 - 48” under column 3? That doesn’t make sense for 3-digit minus 2-digit. Let me double-check...

Wait — actually, looking back at the worksheet structure, all problems are meant to be 3-digit minus 2-digit. But here it shows:

> 3. 11
> -48

That must be a typo or misprint. In context of the rest of the sheet, perhaps it should be 111 – 48? Because otherwise it breaks the pattern. Let’s assume that’s what was intended — since challenge section also has small numbers like 13-30, which again suggests possible formatting issue.

But let’s stick strictly to what’s written unless instructed otherwise. However, since this is likely a printing error and the title says “Subtracting 2-Digit Numbers from 3-Digit Numbers”, I will treat #3 as 111 – 48.

So:

111 – 48
Ones: 1 – 8 → borrow from tens. Tens is 1 → becomes 0, ones become 11.
11 – 8 = 3
Tens: 0 – 4 → can’t do → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 1 → becomes 0, tens become 10.
10 – 4 = 6
Hundreds: 0 → so answer starts with nothing → 63
✔ Answer: 63

*(Note: If truly 11–48, answer would be negative, which isn't expected here.)*

4. 472 – 36
Ones: 2 – 6 → borrow from tens. Tens is 7 → becomes 6, ones become 12.
12 – 6 = 6
Tens: 6 – 3 = 3
Hundreds: 4 → 4
✔ Answer: 436

5. 473 – 79
Ones: 3 – 9 → borrow from tens. Tens is 7 → becomes 6, ones become 13.
13 – 9 = 4
Tens: 6 – 7 → can’t do → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 4 → becomes 3, tens become 16.
16 – 7 = 9
Hundreds: 3 → 3
✔ Answer: 394

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Row 2:

6. 630 – 18
Ones: 0 – 8 → borrow from tens. Tens is 3 → becomes 2, ones become 10.
10 – 8 = 2
Tens: 2 – 1 = 1
Hundreds: 6 → 6
✔ Answer: 612

7. 264 – 46
Ones: 4 – 6 → borrow from tens. Tens is 6 → becomes 5, ones become 14.
14 – 6 = 8
Tens: 5 – 4 = 1
Hundreds: 2 → 2
✔ Answer: 218

8. 435 – 82
Ones: 5 – 2 = 3
Tens: 3 – 8 → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 4 → becomes 3, tens become 13.
13 – 8 = 5
Hundreds: 3 → 3
✔ Answer: 353

9. 569 – 67
Ones: 9 – 7 = 2
Tens: 6 – 6 = 0
Hundreds: 5 → 5
✔ Answer: 502

10. 711 – 58
Ones: 1 – 8 → borrow from tens. Tens is 1 → becomes 0, ones become 11.
11 – 8 = 3
Tens: 0 – 5 → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 7 → becomes 6, tens become 10.
10 – 5 = 5
Hundreds: 6 → 6
✔ Answer: 653

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Row 3:

11. 129 – 21
Ones: 9 – 1 = 8
Tens: 2 – 2 = 0
Hundreds: 1 → 1
✔ Answer: 108

12. 472 – 82
Ones: 2 – 2 = 0
Tens: 7 – 8 → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 4 → becomes 3, tens become 17.
17 – 8 = 9
Hundreds: 3 → 3
✔ Answer: 390

13. 687 – 69
Ones: 7 – 9 → borrow from tens. Tens is 8 → becomes 7, ones become 17.
17 – 9 = 8
Tens: 7 – 6 = 1
Hundreds: 6 → 6
✔ Answer: 618

14. 859 – 53
Ones: 9 – 3 = 6
Tens: 5 – 5 = 0
Hundreds: 8 → 8
✔ Answer: 806

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Now the Challenge Section:

These look like they might have alignment issues too — e.g., “13 - 30” — again, probably meant to be 3-digit minus 2-digit. Looking closely, maybe these are formatted vertically with missing leading zeros or spaces?

Actually, re-examining the challenge part:

It says:

> Challenge: Complete the following subtractions
> 1. 13
> -30
> 2. 471
> -49
> 3. 8_2
> -25

Ah — now I see! The first one is likely 113 – 30, second is fine, third is 8_2 meaning blank digit — wait, no, probably just 822 – 25? Or maybe it's testing if you notice something?

Wait — looking again: “8_2” — underscore may mean missing digit? But that complicates things beyond scope. More likely, it’s a formatting glitch and should be 822 – 25.

Alternatively, perhaps the underscore is just a line separator? No — better to interpret based on standard practice.

Given the pattern, let’s assume:

Challenge 1: 113 – 30
Challenge 2: 471 – 49
Challenge 3: 822 – 25

Let’s solve them:

C1: 113 – 30
Ones: 3 – 0 = 3
Tens: 1 – 3 → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 1 → becomes 0, tens become 11.
11 – 3 = 8
Hundreds: 0 → drop it → 83
✔ Answer: 83

C2: 471 – 49
Ones: 1 – 9 → borrow from tens. Tens is 7 → becomes 6, ones become 11.
11 – 9 = 2
Tens: 6 – 4 = 2
Hundreds: 4 → 4
✔ Answer: 422

C3: 822 – 25
Ones: 2 – 5 → borrow from tens. Tens is 2 → becomes 1, ones become 12.
12 – 5 = 7
Tens: 1 – 2 → borrow from hundreds. Hundreds is 8 → becomes 7, tens become 11.
11 – 2 = 9
Hundreds: 7 → 7
✔ Answer: 797

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Final Answers List:

Main Problems:
1. 527
2. 832
3. 63 *(assuming 111–48)*
4. 436
5. 394
6. 612
7. 218
8. 353
9. 502
10. 653
11. 108
12. 390
13. 618
14. 806

Challenge:
1. 83 *(assuming 113–30)*
2. 422
3. 797 *(assuming 822–25)*

All calculations checked twice.

Final Answer:
527, 832, 63, 436, 394, 612, 218, 353, 502, 653, 108, 390, 618, 806, 83, 422, 797