Three Digit Subtraction with Regrouping Subtraction Games - Teaching Trove - Free Printable

To solve the subtraction problems shown in the "Cool Llama" circles on the left side of the sheet, we need to subtract the bottom number from the top number. These are 3-digit subtraction problems that require regrouping (also known as borrowing).

Here is the step-by-step solution for each problem:

Problem 1: Top Left Circle

Equation: $989 - 846$

1. Ones place: $9 - 6 = 3$
2. Tens place: $8 - 4 = 4$
3. Hundreds place: $9 - 8 = 1$

Result: $143$
*(Looking at the game board, the number 143 is not visible, but let's re-read the numbers carefully. Ah, looking closely at the first circle, the top number is 989 and the bottom is 846. Wait, let me look at the second pair in that same circle. It seems there are two problems per circle or perhaps it's a "find the difference" game. Let's look at the other numbers in the circle: 764 and 658. Let's solve that one too.)*

Let's re-examine the structure. The "Cool Llama" graphic has four quadrants.
- Top-Left Quadrant: 989
- Top-Right Quadrant: 846
- Bottom-Left Quadrant: 764
- Bottom-Right Quadrant: 658

Usually, in these games, you subtract the smaller number from the larger number, or specific pairs are indicated. The purple oval connects 989 and 846. Another purple oval connects 549 and 497 (in the bottom llama). And another connects 438 and 385.

Let's solve the connected pairs:

Pair 1: $989 - 846$
* $9 - 6 = 3$
* $8 - 4 = 4$
* $9 - 8 = 1$
* Answer: 143

Pair 2: $764 - 658$ (These are in the same circle but not explicitly linked by an oval, however, they are the remaining numbers. Let's check if their difference is on the board. $764 - 658$.
* Ones: $4 - 8$ needs regrouping. Borrow from tens. $14 - 8 = 6$.
* Tens: $5 - 5 = 0$ (since we borrowed 1 from 6).
* Hundreds: $7 - 6 = 1$.
* Answer: 106

Let's look at the bottom Llama circle.
Pair 3: $549 - 497$ (Connected by purple oval)
* Ones: $9 - 7 = 2$
* Tens: $4 - 9$ needs regrouping. Borrow from hundreds. $14 - 9 = 5$.
* Hundreds: $4 - 4 = 0$ (since we borrowed 1 from 5).
* Answer: 52

Pair 4: $438 - 385$ (Remaining numbers in the circle)
* Ones: $8 - 5 = 3$
* Tens: $3 - 8$ needs regrouping. Borrow from hundreds. $13 - 8 = 5$.
* Hundreds: $3 - 3 = 0$ (since we borrowed 1 from 4).
* Answer: 53

Now, let's verify if these answers ($143, 106, 52, 53$) appear on the main grid to confirm the logic.
- Scanning the grid... I see 52 is not immediately obvious. I see 53 is not immediately obvious.
- Let's re-read the grid numbers.
- Row 1: 220, 215, 408, 461, 492
- Row 2: 379, 220, [Blue], 349, 604, [Purple], 161
- Row 3: 326, [Purple], 161, 267, 297, [Purple], 604
- Row 4: 109, 215, 273, 408, 492, 297, 326
- Row 5: 349, [Purple], 109, 461, 440, 273
- Row 6: [Blue], 349, [Green], 109, 326, 161
- Row 7: 215, 408, [Purple], 220, [Blue], [Pink]
- Row 8: ..., 461, 604, 440, 551, 297

Wait, looking closer at the bottom llama, the numbers are 549 and 497. The oval connects them.
$549 - 497 = 52$. Is 52 on the board? No.
Is it possible the operation is different? Or did I misread a number?
Let's look at the top llama again.
$989 - 846 = 143$. Is 143 on the board? No.

Let's re-evaluate the pairs. Maybe the pairs are vertical?
Top Llama:
Left side: 989 and 764.
Right side: 846 and 658.

Let's try subtracting vertically within the columns of the llama graphic.
Column 1: $989 - 764$
* $9 - 4 = 5$
* $8 - 6 = 2$
* $9 - 7 = 2$
* Result: 225. (Not on board)

Column 2: $846 - 658$
* $6 - 8$ -> borrow -> $16 - 8 = 8$
* $3 - 5$ -> borrow -> $13 - 5 = 8$
* $7 - 6 = 1$
* Result: 188. (Not on board)

Let's try crossing them?
$989 - 658 = 331$
$846 - 764 = 82$

Let's look at the bottom llama again.
Numbers: 549, 497, 438, 385.
Oval connects 549 and 497.
Oval connects 438 and 385.

Let's re-calculate $549 - 497$.
$9-7=2$.
$14-9=5$.
$4-4=0$.
Result: 52.

Let's re-calculate $438 - 385$.
$8-5=3$.
$13-8=5$.
$3-3=0$.
Result: 53.

Let's look really closely at the board again. Maybe I missed 52 or 53.
I see 220, 215, 408, 461, 492.
379, 220, 349, 604, 161.
326, 161, 267, 297, 604.
109, 215, 273, 408, 492, 297, 326.
349, 109, 461, 440, 273.
349, 109, 326, 161.
215, 408, 220, 551, 297.
461, 604, 440, 551, 297.

None of the calculated differences (143, 106, 52, 53) appear on the board. This suggests my interpretation of which numbers to subtract might be wrong, OR the task is simply to perform the subtraction shown by the ovals regardless of the board (the board might be for a different set of problems or the "recording sheet" mentioned in the text is separate).

However, usually, these games work by finding the answer on the board. Let's look for another pattern.
What if we add?
$989 + 846$... too big.
What if we subtract the smaller from the larger in the *entire* circle?
Max: 989. Min: 658. Diff: 331.

Let's look at the colors.
The ovals are purple.
On the board, there are purple squares.
One purple square is next to 492. One is next to 161. One is next to 604. One is next to 297. One is next to 109. One is next to 408.

Let's try calculating the differences for the standard "regrouping" examples often found in these sets.
Maybe the numbers in the llama are just examples and the student is supposed to pick cards? No, the numbers are printed.

Let's reconsider the calculation $549 - 497$.
Is it possible the number is 549 and 479?
If it were 479: $549 - 479 = 70$. Not on board.
Is it possible the number is 594?
$594 - 497 = 97$. Not on board.

Let's look at the top llama again.
$989 - 846 = 143$.
Is it possible the number is 989 and 864?
$989 - 864 = 125$. Not on board.

Let's try one more combination. What if the subtraction is between the two llamas?
No, that's unlikely.

Let's assume the question asks to solve the specific subtractions indicated by the purple ovals, as that is the most direct instruction visualised. The fact that the answers aren't immediately visible on the cropped portion of the board might mean they are covered by tokens (the colored circles) or are on a part of the board not fully clear, or simply that the user wants the math solved.

The prompt asks to "Solve the problem accurately." The visible problems with explicit operators (the ovals indicating pairs) are:
1. $989 - 846$
2. $549 - 497$
3. $438 - 385$

There is also a pair $764$ and $658$ in the top llama, though no oval connects them directly like the others. However, given the symmetry, it is highly likely a fourth problem.

Let's double check the arithmetic one last time.

Problem A: $989 - 846$
989
- 846
-----
143
(Check: $143 + 846 = 989$. Correct.)

Problem B: $764 - 658$
764
- 658
-----
106
(Check: $106 + 658 = 764$. Correct.)
*Note: $4-8$ borrows from 6 (becomes 5). $14-8=6$. $5-5=0$. $7-6=1$.*

Problem C: $549 - 497$
549
- 497
-----
52
(Check: $52 + 497 = 549$. Correct.)
*Note: $9-7=2$. $4-9$ borrows from 5 (becomes 4). $14-9=5$. $4-4=0$.*

Problem D: $438 - 385$
438
- 385
-----
53
(Check: $53 + 385 = 438$. Correct.)
*Note: $8-5=3$. $3-8$ borrows from 4 (becomes 3). $13-8=5$. $3-3=0$.*

Since the user prompt is "Solve the problem," and there are multiple distinct subtraction tasks indicated by the graphics, I will provide the solutions for the clearly paired numbers.

Final Answer:
The subtraction problems indicated by the ovals are:

1. 989 - 846 = 143
2. 549 - 497 = 52
3. 438 - 385 = 53

(The remaining pair in the top circle is 764 - 658 = 106)