How to explain subtraction word problems - up to three digits in word problems to your child
30 October 2026
Subtraction word problems with up to three digits can feel tricky at first. When you break them down into clear steps, children can see how to find the answer with confidence.
Worked example
Sarah had 245 stickers. She gave 128 stickers to her friends. How many stickers does Sarah have left?
Step 1: Write the subtraction 245 - 128
Step 2: Subtract the ones
5 - 8 cannot be done, so borrow 1 ten from the tens column.
Now it is 15 - 8 = 7.
Step 3: Subtract the tens
4 becomes 3 after borrowing. 3 - 2 = 1.
Step 4: Subtract the hundreds
2 - 1 = 1.
Sarah has 117 stickers left.
Key insight: After working through this example, your child will spot when to use subtraction in word problems and how to set out each step. They can now try similar problems to build their skills and feel ready for more practice.
