Working with problems that have hundreds or thousands numbers can be a little trick­y. But if we work with them one step at a time, we can find the answers.

Let's start with problems that have hundreds numbers. Take a look at this:

To solve this, we have to start in the ones place. The problem in the ones place is 0 minus 9. But we can't work with 0 minus 9. So what do we do? We have to regroup (borrow). What value do we cross out and regroup from? We regroup from 50. Why? We can't regroup from the zero in the tens place. The first digit that is not a zero is 6. (You will sometimes see the terms "ones column" and "tens column" used.)

We rewrite 50 as 49 and place the 1 you regrouped beside the zero in the ones place. Your new problem will look like this:

Now you can subtract.

Let's move on to solving a problem that has thousands numbers. Here's a new problem:

As always, we start in the ones place. What is the problem in the ones place? The problem is 0 minus 0. Do we have to regroup? We don't regroup, because 0 minus 0 equals 0. Let's go to the tens place. We can't solve 0 minus 9, so we have to regroup. What value do we cross out and borrow from? We borrow from 50. We can't borrow from the zero in the hundred­s place (hundreds column). The first digit that is not a zero is 5. We rewrite 50 as 49 and place the 1 you regrouped beside the zero in the tens place. Your new problem will now look like this:

Now you can work with problems that have hundreds or thousands numbers. Wasn't it much less tricky?