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Subtraction

Subtract quickly by converting to addition, rounding, or using same-change shortcuts.

Avoid borrowing: use "add up from the smaller number" or Same-Change to make one operand round.

Visual Methods

Subtraction approach board showing add-up and same-change methods
1Approach
Subtraction add-up step 1: 47 plus 3 equals 50
2Add to Subtract
Round subtraction board for 92 minus 38
3Round & Adjust
Subtraction same-change step 1: add 3 to both numbers
4Same-Change Method
Left-to-right subtraction board for 856 minus 234
5Left-to-Right

Level Visual Guides

30 levels. Each level opens as 6 visual blocks.

Level 1 visual plan for 1-digit − 1-digit

Level 1 - foundation

1-digit − 1-digit

6 image blocks

Level 2 visual plan for 2d − 1d (no borrow)

Level 2 - foundation

2d − 1d (no borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 3 visual plan for 2d − 1d (with borrow)

Level 3 - realistic untimed

2d − 1d (with borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 4 visual plan for Mixed 1d/2d − 1d

Level 4 - foundation

Mixed 1d/2d − 1d

6 image blocks

Level 5 visual plan for Mixed (mastery)

Level 5 - foundation

Mixed (mastery)

6 image blocks

Level 6 visual plan for 2d − round number

Level 6 - foundation

2d − round number

6 image blocks

Level 7 visual plan for 2d − 2d (no borrow)

Level 7 - foundation

2d − 2d (no borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 8 visual plan for 2d − 2d (borrow ones)

Level 8 - realistic untimed

2d − 2d (borrow ones)

6 image blocks

Level 9 visual plan for 2d − 2d (any)

Level 9 - foundation

2d − 2d (any)

6 image blocks

Level 10 visual plan for 2d − 2d (mastery)

Level 10 - foundation

2d − 2d (mastery)

6 image blocks

Level 11 visual plan for 3d − 2d (no borrow)

Level 11 - build-up

3d − 2d (no borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 12 visual plan for 3d − 2d (borrow ones)

Level 12 - build-up

3d − 2d (borrow ones)

6 image blocks

Level 13 visual plan for 3d − 2d (cascade borrow)

Level 13 - realistic untimed

3d − 2d (cascade borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 14 visual plan for 3d − 2d (any)

Level 14 - build-up

3d − 2d (any)

6 image blocks

Level 15 visual plan for 3d − 2d (mastery)

Level 15 - build-up

3d − 2d (mastery)

6 image blocks

Level 16 visual plan for 3d − 3d (no borrow)

Level 16 - build-up

3d − 3d (no borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 17 visual plan for 3d − 3d (borrow ones)

Level 17 - build-up

3d − 3d (borrow ones)

6 image blocks

Level 18 visual plan for 3d − 3d (cascade borrow)

Level 18 - realistic untimed

3d − 3d (cascade borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 19 visual plan for 3d − 3d (any)

Level 19 - build-up

3d − 3d (any)

6 image blocks

Level 20 visual plan for 3d − 3d (mastery)

Level 20 - build-up

3d − 3d (mastery)

6 image blocks

Level 21 visual plan for 4d − 3d (no borrow)

Level 21 - mastery

4d − 3d (no borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 22 visual plan for 4d − 3d (borrow ones)

Level 22 - mastery

4d − 3d (borrow ones)

6 image blocks

Level 23 visual plan for 4d − 3d (cascade borrow)

Level 23 - realistic untimed

4d − 3d (cascade borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 24 visual plan for 4d − 3d (any)

Level 24 - mastery

4d − 3d (any)

6 image blocks

Level 25 visual plan for 4d − 3d (mastery)

Level 25 - mastery

4d − 3d (mastery)

6 image blocks

Level 26 visual plan for 4d − 4d (no borrow)

Level 26 - mastery

4d − 4d (no borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 27 visual plan for 4d − 4d (borrow ones)

Level 27 - mastery

4d − 4d (borrow ones)

6 image blocks

Level 28 visual plan for 4d − 4d (half borrow)

Level 28 - realistic untimed

4d − 4d (half borrow)

6 image blocks

Level 29 visual plan for 4d − 4d (any)

Level 29 - mastery

4d − 4d (any)

6 image blocks

Level 30 visual plan for 4d − 4d (mastery)

Level 30 - mastery

4d − 4d (mastery)

6 image blocks

Practice this category

Use the same method on live subtraction levels.

Start Subtraction Workout

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