Subtraction Word Problems with Borrowing

1) A farmer picked 740 apples. He sold 395 at the market. How many apples remain?

145

325

345

554

740 − 395 → 10−5=5; 13−9=4 (borrow); 6−3=3 → 345 apples remain.

Explanation

740 − 395 → 10−5=5; 13−9=4 (borrow); 6−3=3 → 345 apples remain.

2) A bakery made 735 cookies. By the end of the day, they had sold 598. How many cookies were left?

598

137

333

127

735 − 598 → 15−8=7; 12−9=3 (borrow); 6−5=1 → 137 cookies left.

Explanation

735 − 598 → 15−8=7; 12−9=3 (borrow); 6−5=1 → 137 cookies left.

3) A park had 640 trees last year. Over the year, 275 were removed for construction. How many remain?

375

275

640

365

640 − 275 → 10−5=5; 13−7=6 (borrow); 5−2=3 → 365 trees remain.

Explanation

640 − 275 → 10−5=5; 13−7=6 (borrow); 5−2=3 → 365 trees remain.

4) The school library had 728 books. After donating 456 books to other schools, how many books are left?

262

272

282

292

728 − 456 → 8−6=2; 12−5=7 (borrow); 6−4=2 → 272 books remain.

Explanation

728 − 456 → 8−6=2; 12−5=7 (borrow); 6−4=2 → 272 books remain.

5) A train started with 600 passengers. At the first stop, 287 got off. How many passengers remain?

313

333

287

600

Borrow through zeros → 600 − 287 = 313 passengers remain.

Explanation

Borrow through zeros → 600 − 287 = 313 passengers remain.

6) A video game store had 482 games in stock. They sold 268 games during a weekend sale. How many are left?

482

224

234

214

482 − 268 → 12−8=4; 7−6=1; 4−2=2 → 214 games left.

Explanation

482 − 268 → 12−8=4; 7−6=1; 4−2=2 → 214 games left.

7) A movie theater had 800 tickets. They sold 476 tickets for Friday night. How many tickets are left?

324

423

800

476

Borrow through zeros → 800 − 476 = 324 tickets left.

Explanation

Borrow through zeros → 800 − 476 = 324 tickets left.

8) A classroom raised $703 for a charity walk. They spent $478 on supplies. How much money is left?

267

255

703

225

703 − 478 → 13−8=5; 9−7=2; 6−4=2 → $225 left.

Explanation

703 − 478 → 13−8=5; 9−7=2; 6−4=2 → $225 left.

9) The library had 950 pencils in storage. They gave 672 to classrooms. How many pencils are left?

278

288

289

299

950 − 672 → 10−2=8; 14−7=7 (borrow); 8−6=2 → 278 pencils left.

Explanation

950 − 672 → 10−2=8; 14−7=7 (borrow); 8−6=2 → 278 pencils left.

10) The school cafeteria prepared 625 lunches. By the end of lunch, 389 were eaten. How many are left?

625

256

236

266

625 − 389 → 15−9=6; 11−8=3; 5−3=2 → 236 lunches left.

Explanation

625 − 389 → 15−9=6; 11−8=3; 5−3=2 → 236 lunches left.

Subtraction with Word Problems