Subtraction practice

Missing-number subtraction

Find an unknown minuend, subtrahend, or difference in horizontal equations using symbols and related addition facts.

Ready-made English PDF · fixed settings

Customization below makes a separate PDF.

Fixed English ready-made files. Custom settings below apply only to the configured PDF.

Ready to print

Start with a ready-made worksheet

Decide what the blank represents. Use subtraction or a related addition fact to find the missing number.

Download the practice pages alone, or include a separate answer key or teacher model. Longer activities may use more than one page.

Customize this worksheet

Paper sizes and printing help · More subtraction activities

Learning objective

What this activity builds

Reason about the relationship among the whole, the part removed, and the remaining difference.

Worked example

Complete 14 − □ = 6.

8

The blank is the part removed. Since 6 + 8 = 14, the missing subtrahend is 8.

Teaching notes

Make the practice count

  • Name the role of the blank before choosing an operation.
  • Use a part-part-whole diagram when the unknown changes position.

Make it yours

Customize the practice

Choose your options, update the preview, then download the exact same pages.

Worksheet settings

Page note and reproducible seed

The same settings and seed make the same questions. Shared links include your page note; leave personal information out.

Configured PDF · Missing-number subtraction · US Letter

Preview ready. Download includes these exact pages.

1 student page
Enlarged pages scroll. PDF size stays the same.
Math SheetNameScore/ 20TeacherDateMissing-number subtractionFind the missing number in each subtraction sentence.1.___ - 17 = 172.28 - 13 = ___3.38 - ___ = 144.39 - 37 = ___5.33 - ___ = 156.___ - 27 = 67.33 - ___ = 78.___ - 13 = 249.___ - 11 = 1210.32 - 22 = ___11.38 - ___ = 1912.___ - 33 = 013.24 - 17 = ___14.35 - ___ = 115.20 - 11 = ___16.35 - 11 = ___17.___ - 16 = 218.___ - 35 = 519.40 - ___ = 2120.39 - 25 = ___math-sheet.comPage 1 / 1

A useful next step

Related activities

Printable missing-digit subtraction worksheet preview

Subtraction

Missing-digit subtraction

Restore hidden digits in vertical multi-digit subtraction by reasoning column by column from the known result.

Preview and download
Printable subtraction within a chosen number worksheet preview

Subtraction

Subtraction within a chosen number

Generate subtraction facts within a chosen maximum. Standard sets may repeat facts; the three unique-set presets provide distinct problems.

Preview and download