Parts of a Subtraction Problem

One problem, 52 − 17 = 35, written across and stacked: 8 parts to name.

Parts of a Subtraction Problem

Name Date

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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Write the name of each numbered part.Answer key

  1. Minuend
  2. Minus sign
  3. Subtrahend
  4. Equals sign
  5. Difference
  6. Regrouping
  7. Tens column
  8. Ones column

Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-26. Licence: own work.

Each numbered ring is a button. Use the arrow keys to move between them and Enter to choose. Names are read out in Study, and once a part is answered.

Next step Next: the parts of a circle

All 8 parts on the diagram

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Start here: 5 main parts 5

  1. Minuend The number that is subtracted from: 52 here. It comes first across and on top when stacked.
  2. Minus sign The sign that means subtract, or take away.
  3. Subtrahend The number being subtracted: 17 here. It comes after the minus sign, or under the minuend when stacked.
  4. Equals sign The sign that means the two sides have the same value.
  5. Difference The result of the subtraction: 35 here. It comes after the equals sign, or under the line when stacked.

Stacked: 3 more 3

  1. Regrouping Taking one ten from the tens place. The ones then have enough to subtract from: the 5 tens become 4 and the 2 ones become 12. It is also called borrowing.
  2. Tens column The column of tens digits: 5, 1 and 3 here.
  3. Ones column The column of ones digits: 2, 7 and 5 here. Subtraction starts in this column.

How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-26. Wikipedia, Subtraction, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtraction : the number being subtracted is the subtrahend, the number it is taken from is the minuend, and the result is the difference; in the column method the lower number is subtracted and the difference written below, under a line; American schools teach borrowing or regrouping (the decomposition algorithm) with small marks. The worked example 52 - 17 = 35 is checked by addition: 35 + 17 = 52. Licence: own work

The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-26. Own work. Licence: own work

How it works

The parts of a subtraction problem on one worked example, 52 − 17 = 35, written across and then stacked with the regrouping marks. Start with the 5 main parts, the numbers and signs, then the stacked extras.

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The three numbers

The minuend is the number you start with. The subtrahend is the number taken away. The difference is the answer. In 52 − 17 = 35, they are 52, 17 and 35.

Stacked and regrouped

Stacked, the minuend goes on top and the difference under the line, with tens and ones in columns. Seven ones cannot come from 2, so one ten is regrouped: the 5 tens become 4 and the 2 ones become 12.

  • Check the difference by adding: 35 + 17 should give back the minuend, 52.

Questions and answers

What are the three parts of a subtraction problem called?

The minuend, the subtrahend and the difference. The minuend comes first, the subtrahend is taken away from it, and the difference is the answer.

Is the difference the answer in subtraction?

Yes. The difference is the result of a subtraction. In 52 − 17 = 35, the difference is 35.

What is regrouping in subtraction?

Taking one ten from the tens column to give the ones column ten more, when the top ones digit is too small to subtract from. It is also called borrowing.

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