Subtracting One Digit Numbers Worksheet

Subtracting one digit numbers is the foundation of first grade math fluency, and this subtracting one digit numbers worksheet gives students the focused practice they need to build it. First graders are expected to add and subtract within ten quickly and accurately, and the only way to get there is repeated, unhurried work with the basic facts. Every problem on this page uses single digit numbers, so nothing distracts from the skill itself.

The worksheet is printed in a clean, roomy layout with fourteen problems across two sections. In the first section, students solve ten horizontal subtraction sentences and write each difference in a large answer box. In the second section, students work backwards: the difference is given and the missing number has to be found. That second step is where subtraction really clicks, because it asks a child to think about the relationship between the two numbers instead of simply counting down. Print it, hand it out, and let students work independently or with a partner.

What’s Included

• One printable worksheet page with fourteen single digit subtraction problems
• Ten horizontal subtraction sentences with a large answer box for each
• Four missing number sentences that build inverse thinking
• A full answer key on page two
• A name and date line for easy collection and grading

Three Reasons This Helps Kids

• It builds fact fluency. Working through a page of single digit facts is what moves subtraction from counting on fingers to instant recall.
• It teaches the inverse relationship. The missing number section shows students that every subtraction sentence hides an addition fact.
• It keeps the page uncluttered. Big numerals, big answer boxes, and generous spacing mean young students can read and write without crowding.

Teacher and Parent Ideas

Use this 1st grade subtraction worksheet as a warm up at the start of a math block, as an independent center activity, or as a quick check before a unit test. Read the first two problems aloud together so students hear the language of subtraction, then let them finish on their own. For students who still count back, offer counters or a number line beside the page. For students who finish early, ask them to turn each missing number sentence into an addition sentence and write it on the back. Sending the page home is an easy way to give families five minutes of meaningful practice. Because this subtracting one digit numbers worksheet pairs simple numbers with two different question formats, it also works well as a review sheet in second grade.

Related Resources

• Single Digit Subtraction Worksheet
• Single Digit Numbers Subtraction Worksheet
• True or False Subtraction Worksheet
• Counting Down From Twenty Song