Addition and subtractionGrades 2–3
3-digit addition and subtraction worksheets
A mixed page of three-digit addition and subtraction problems in columns. The regrouping setting controls whether carrying and borrowing appear, and each problem has its own sign. Choose layout and count, then print with an answer key.
- Fresh problems every time
- Answer key on its own page
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On this page
Why mix the two operations
When a worksheet has only addition, children can slide into autopilot after the second problem. This page randomly switches between adding and subtracting, so every problem begins with a look at the sign. That attention is half of what the sheet teaches. The other half is the full column routine at the hundreds level: ones first, then tens, then hundreds, carrying or borrowing as the digits demand.
The preset has regrouping set to "Mixed", so some problems carry or borrow and others do not. It is meant for late grade 2 and grade 3, when students are expected to work fluently within 1000.
The sheet's instruction line says to look at each sign carefully, then add or subtract.
Settings in practice
- Operation. "Addition and subtraction" is the preset. Pick "Addition" or "Subtraction" alone for focused review.
- Digits in the first and second number. Both are 3 here. Make the second number 2 digits to practice lining up unequal numbers, such as 482 + 63.
- Regrouping (carrying and borrowing). "Mixed" is a realistic test. Use "No regrouping" first if the child is shaky; see three-digit subtraction with no borrowing. Use "Always regroup" when a child has been avoiding the hard cases.
- Layout. Stacked suits most learners. Horizontal is useful once the algorithm is automatic, or when you want to see whether the child sets up their own columns.
- Number of problems. 6 to 40; the preset is 20.
- Include the answer key.
Subtraction problems always put the larger number on top, so no answer is negative.
Worked example: 642 − 318
- Ones. 2 − 8 cannot be done. Borrow one ten from the 4 tens, leaving 3 tens, and the 2 becomes 12. Then 12 − 8 = 4.
- Tens. Now there are 3 tens. 3 − 1 = 2.
- Hundreds. 6 − 3 = 3.
- The answer is 324.
- Check: 324 + 318. Ones: 4 + 8 = 12, write 2 and carry 1. Tens: 2 + 1 + 1 = 4. Hundreds: 3 + 3 = 6. The sum is 642, which matches.
Now an addition on the same page might be 478 + 256: ones 8 + 6 = 14 (write 4, carry 1); tens 7 + 5 + 1 = 13 (write 3, carry 1); hundreds 4 + 2 + 1 = 7. Answer: 734.
Where students slip
- Using the wrong operation. The answer to a subtraction looks too large, or an addition looks smaller than an addend. Both are red flags on the key.
- Forgetting the carried digit. The sum is off by ten or one hundred.
- Not reducing after borrowing. The tens digit stays what it was, so the difference is 10 too big.
- Zero in the middle. Numbers like 703 make borrowing across the zero tricky. Mixed sheets will occasionally contain them.
- Careless alignment. Short numbers pushed to the left cause wrong columns.
Have the student circle every sign before starting, and use the key to find which kind of slip repeats. For students who need the earlier stage, 2-digit addition without regrouping rebuilds the routine with smaller numbers.