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Subtraction worksheet generator

Choose a small range for subtraction facts or larger values for written work with borrowing. If mistakes cluster around zeros or place-value columns, switch to one column and leave more working space.

Free to use · no sign-up · adjustable difficulty · print or save as PDF · separate answer key

The rule applies to the ones column. Keep the number range wide enough to generate different problems.
Mixed worksheet modules

Select one or more modules and set the question count for each. Leave all unchecked to use the page topic.

Advanced arithmetic settings
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Name: ____________________Date: ____________________
1.27 − 13 =
2.38 − 19 =
3.35 − 24 =
4.29 − 16 =
5.46 − 7 =
6.43 − 37 =
7.40 − 31 =
8.46 − 24 =
9.20 − 6 =
10.42 − 11 =
11.32 − 10 =
12.50 − 18 =
13.41 − 11 =
14.33 − 31 =
15.50 − 12 =
16.48 − 43 =
17.23 − 12 =
18.40 − 22 =
19.39 − 26 =
20.35 − 30 =
Answer key
1. 14
2. 19
3. 11
4. 13
5. 39
6. 6
7. 9
8. 22
9. 14
10. 31
11. 22
12. 32
13. 30
14. 2
15. 38
16. 5
17. 11
18. 18
19. 13
20. 5
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What this worksheet practises

  • Interpret subtraction as taking away or finding a difference
  • Regroup accurately across place values
  • Check a difference by adding

What appears on the sheet

  • Easy uses values from 1 to 10; medium uses 5 to 50; hard uses 10 to 200.
  • The larger value is placed first, so answers are never negative.
  • Duplicate expressions are avoided when the selected range permits.

Make a sheet in three steps

Choose the level and question count, generate the sheet, then print or download it. Keep the seed if you want exactly the same questions again.

Algorithms

Choose a method for this problem type

CategoryNumber and operations · subtraction
Problem patternTwo-digit subtraction with regrouping
Worked example52 − 28 = 24

How to recognize it

  • The minuend and subtrahend have tens and ones.
  • The ones in the minuend are smaller, so a ten must be exchanged.
5 tens + 2 ones4 tens + 12 ones
Five tens and two ones regrouped as four tens and twelve ones.
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Visual model

Place-value exchange

Best for: Understanding why regrouping preserves the number

Exchange one ten for ten ones before subtracting.

  1. Represent 52 as 5 tens and 2 ones.
  2. Exchange 1 ten: 4 tens and 12 ones.
  3. Remove 2 tens and 8 ones, leaving 24.

Trade-off: Makes regrouping meaningful, but is slower for fluent calculation.

02
Mental strategy

Count up

Best for: Finding a difference when the numbers are fairly close

Find the distance from 28 to 52.

  1. 28 to 30 is 2.
  2. 30 to 50 is 20.
  3. 50 to 52 is 2; total 24.

Trade-off: Excellent for differences; the jumps need careful recording with larger gaps.

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Written algorithm

Column subtraction

Best for: Consistent written work with larger values

Align place values, exchange a ten, then subtract each column.

  1. Rewrite 52 as 4 tens and 12 ones.
  2. 12 − 8 = 4.
  3. 4 tens − 2 tens = 2 tens.

Trade-off: Efficient and general, but errors occur when the renamed digits are not recorded.

Check the resultAdd the difference back: 24 + 28 = 52.

Standards

Grade and standards reference

These mappings are planning references, not certification of curriculum alignment.

SubtractionGrades 1, 2, 3CCSS 1.OA–3.NBT
Vertical subtractionGrades 2, 3, 4CCSS 2.NBT.B.5 / 3.NBT.A.2
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Teaching notes

  • Have learners say which number should be larger before calculating.
  • Use graph paper if place-value alignment is difficult.
04

Questions teachers and parents ask

How do you teach subtraction with regrouping?

Trade one ten for ten ones using objects or a place-value drawing. Mark the reduced tens digit and the new ones value before subtracting. Use the regrouping rule to choose questions with borrowing; the difficulty setting alone does not guarantee it.

What should learners know before subtraction with regrouping?

Check that the learner understands tens and ones and can subtract within 20. Then practise borrowing one ten before moving to questions that borrow across a zero.

Are negative answers included?

Not by default. The first value is kept at least as large as the second unless you enable negative answers in advanced settings.

05

Teach the idea, then practise it

Learning goals

  • Connect subtraction with taking away, comparison, and missing-addend situations.
  • Regroup across place values while preserving the value of the number.
  • Use addition and estimation to validate a difference.

Quick understanding checks

  • The difference is no greater than the starting number.
  • Difference plus subtrahend equals the minuend.

Suggested teaching progression

  1. RepresentShow removal and comparison with objects or a number line.
  2. ExplainRelate counting up, partitioning, and the standard written method.
  3. PractiseMix questions with and without regrouping, then sort errors by cause.

Common misconceptions and responses

The smaller digit is always subtracted from the larger digit in each column.

Return to the whole-number expression and model regrouping; digit order cannot be changed independently by column.

Regrouping across a zero changes only one adjacent column.

Show the full exchange across every intervening place with a place-value chart.

06

Curriculum and teaching references

These external sources provide curriculum context or evidence-informed teaching guidance. They do not endorse this generator, and local curriculum requirements should take priority.

Content reviewExplanations and examples reviewed 9 October 2026. Found a problem? Send a correction

07

Focused worksheet sets

Subtraction within 20 worksheetsGenerate 20 printable subtraction questions with differences within 20 and no negative answers.Subtraction within 100 worksheetsGenerate 20 printable subtraction questions using values from 5 to 50, without negative answers.Two-digit subtraction worksheetsCreate 20 printable two-digit subtraction questions with regrouping practice and a separate answer key.Vertical subtraction worksheetsPrint 20 vertical subtraction problems with aligned place values and a separate answer key.
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