3-Digit Subtraction Word Problems Worksheet for Elementary Students

Sure! Let’s solve each of the 3-Digit Subtraction Word Problems step by step, using subtraction with regrouping where needed. I’ll explain each solution clearly.

---

Problem 1:

> The farmer brought his corn crop to the market. He had 468 ears of corn. Within the first hour he sold 172 ears of corn. How many ears of corn does he have left to sell?

Solution:
We need to subtract the number sold from the total he started with:
```
468
- 172
-----
```

Start from the right (ones place):
- 8 – 2 = 6

Tens place:
- 6 – 7 → Can’t do that, so we regroup from the hundreds.
- Borrow 1 from 4 (hundreds), making it 3. The 6 in tens becomes 16.
- 16 – 7 = 9

Hundreds place:
- 3 – 1 = 2

✔ Answer: 296 ears of corn left

---

Problem 2:

> John’s family went on a road trip. The total miles for the trip was 723 miles. In the first day they drove 351 miles. How many more miles do they need to drive to reach their destination?

Solution:
Subtract miles driven from total miles:
```
723
- 351
-----
```

Ones place:
- 3 – 1 = 2

Tens place:
- 2 – 5 → Can’t do that, so regroup from hundreds.
- Borrow 1 from 7 (hundreds), making it 6. The 2 in tens becomes 12.
- 12 – 5 = 7

Hundreds place:
- 6 – 3 = 3

✔ Answer: 372 more miles to drive

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Problem 3:

> The school was having a penny war to raise money. The class in the lead had collected 904 pennies on the first day. The class in 2nd place collected 532. What is the difference in the number of coins collected on the first day of the fundraiser?

Solution:
Find the difference: 904 – 532
```
904
- 532
-----
```

Ones place:
- 4 – 2 = 2

Tens place:
- 0 – 3 → Can’t do that, so regroup from hundreds.
- Borrow 1 from 9 (hundreds), making it 8. The 0 in tens becomes 10.
- 10 – 3 = 7

Hundreds place:
- 8 – 5 = 3

✔ Answer: 372 pennies difference

---

Problem 4:

> Jackie was working all summer and saving money to buy a new computer. The one she wanted was 518 dollars. Her bank account has 356 dollars. How many more dollars does she need to earn to be able to purchase the computer?

Solution:
Subtract what she has from what she needs:
```
518
- 356
-----
```

Ones place:
- 8 – 6 = 2

Tens place:
- 1 – 5 → Can’t do that, so regroup from hundreds.
- Borrow 1 from 5 (hundreds), making it 4. The 1 in tens becomes 11.
- 11 – 5 = 6

Hundreds place:
- 4 – 3 = 1

✔ Answer: $162 more needed

---

Problem 5:

> There were 909 students in the high school and 856 students in the elementary school. What is the difference in number of students at each school?

Solution:
Subtract smaller number from larger:
```
909
- 856
-----
```

Ones place:
- 9 – 6 = 3

Tens place:
- 0 – 5 → Can’t do that, so regroup from hundreds.
- Borrow 1 from 9 (hundreds), making it 8. The 0 in tens becomes 10.
- 10 – 5 = 5

Hundreds place:
- 8 – 8 = 0

✔ Answer: 53 students difference

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. 296 ears of corn
2. 372 miles
3. 372 pennies
4. $162
5. 53 students

All problems required subtraction with regrouping in at least one place value — great practice for mastering 3-digit subtraction!

Let me know if you’d like to see the problems solved vertically with visual regrouping steps!