Practice Subtracting from 1000 10000 100000 1000000

Introduction

This worksheet provides focused online practice for subtraction from powers of ten such as 1000, 10000, 100000, and 1000000 using a classic quick arithmetic technique. It trains learners to subtract rapidly and accurately without traditional borrowing.

The Core Trick: All from 9, Last from 10

This worksheet is based on a powerful mental subtraction rule: subtract all digits from 9, and subtract the last digit from 10.

In practice:

• All digits except the ones place are subtracted from 9
• The digit in the ones place is subtracted from 10

This shortcut eliminates the need for borrowing and allows subtraction to be performed quickly and confidently in the mind.

Vedic Mathematics Insight

This method comes from the Vedic Mathematics sutra Nikhilam Navatascaramam Dasatah, which translates to "all from 9 and the last from 10."

The sutra is especially effective when subtracting numbers from powers of ten and forms the basis of many fast mental maths techniques.

Configurable Worksheet Options

This is a highly configurable, online worksheet that allows learners to customize the subtraction scenarios precisely.

• Choose the minuend: 1000, 10000, 100000, or 1000000
• Select bigger or smaller subtrahends based on the number of zeros in the chosen minuend
• Choose whether the subtrahend must have trailing zeros

• Control whether the minuend:

  • Begins with 1
  • Does not begin with 1 but has an equal number of digits
  • Does not begin with 1 and has a different number of digits

The Five Scenarios

This subtraction trick can be applied in five distinct scenarios, depending on the structure of the minuend and the subtrahend.

For a detailed explanation of all five scenarios, you may explore our comprehensive blog post on Subtract from 1000, 10000, 100000, where each case is explained step by step with examples.

This worksheet allows you to configure the problems to match any of these scenarios, enabling targeted practice and deeper mastery of the technique.

How to Approach These Problems

Each problem presents a subtraction where the minuend is a large base number such as 1000 or higher.

Instead of borrowing digit by digit, apply the mental rule directly: subtract from 9 for all places except the last, and subtract from 10 for the ones place.

This approach keeps the calculation fast, clean, and entirely mental.

Why This Trick Is So Effective

• Completely avoids borrowing and carry confusion
• Encourages left-to-right and whole-number thinking
• Builds confidence with large numbers
• Ideal for speed maths and mental calculation practice
• Commonly used in Vedic and quick arithmetic systems

Example Problem:

For a detailed explanation and additional scenarios, click here to read our comprehensive blog post.

Online, Interactive, and Self-Correcting

This is an online, interactive worksheet where learners enter the final difference directly into the input box.

Answers are checked instantly, allowing immediate feedback and correction. No printing or downloading is required.