A 42-level progression covering single-digit subtraction through six-digit subtraction with borrowing, designed for the Indian school curriculum (CBSE, ICSE, and state boards).
What is column-method subtraction?
Column method subtraction (also called vertical subtraction) is the way subtraction is taught in Indian schools: the larger number (the minuend) is written above the smaller number (the subtrahend), aligned by place value, and subtracted column-by-column from right to left. When a digit in the minuend is smaller than the digit being subtracted, the next column is borrowed from.
How MathGuru teaches it
Each of the 42 levels isolates one small skill â single-digit subtraction first, then 2-digit no-borrow, then 2-digit with borrow, and so on. No-borrow and with-borrow problems are practised separately before they're mixed, so children master each pattern cleanly. Step-by-step working is shown for every problem.
Who is this for?
Indian students in Class 1, 2, 3, and 4 studying subtraction â CBSE, ICSE, or any state board. Also useful for parents wanting structured practice outside class, and tutors looking for free supplementary problems.
What your child will learn
- Single-digit subtraction fluency â recall differences quickly, without using fingers.
- Place value through column alignment â understand why ones go under ones, tens under tens.
- Borrowing / regrouping â confidently subtract when a column digit is too small.
- Multi-digit subtraction â solve 2-digit through 6-digit problems with the same column method.
- No-borrow vs. with-borrow patterns â children master each pattern cleanly before mixing them.
How children progress through levels
Each level requires a minimum number of correctly answered problems at a target accuracy (typically 80â85%) before the next level unlocks. Children can replay any unlocked level for extra practice without losing progress.
42 levels, grouped by section
| Levels | Section | What's covered |
|---|
| 1 | Foundation | Single-digit subtraction (minuend â¤9) |
| 2 â 5 | 2-digit | 2Ã1 and 2Ã2, with and without borrowing |
| 6 â 11 | 3-digit | 3Ã1, 3Ã2, 3Ã3, with and without borrowing |
| 12 â 19 | 4-digit | 4Ã1 through 4Ã4, with and without borrowing |
| 20 â 29 | 5-digit | 5Ã1 through 5Ã5, with and without borrowing |
| 30 â 41 | 6-digit | 6Ã1 through 6Ã6, with and without borrowing |
| 42 | Ultimate challenge | Mixed minuends 2â6 digits, subtrahends 1â6 digits |
Free today, foundation always free
Today MathGuru is fully free â every level of every operation, no ads, no premium prompts. When a small paid tier launches in the future (planned at âš49/month), the foundation levels will remain free for everyone. Paid users will get the full progression of every operation, daily parent reports, custom worksheets, and content from Class 5 onwards.
No ads, no tracking
MathGuru shows no ads, uses no third-party analytics that follow your child across the web, and does not require an email to start practising. The only data stored is the practice progress of children who choose to create an optional account.
A note about accounts
Because MathGuru doesn't collect email addresses (yet), if you forget your username or password, the account can't be recovered automatically â there is no "forgot password" link to email you. If you create an account, please write the username and password down somewhere safe. Email-based recovery may be added in the future once we've worked out how to do it without becoming a spam source.
Made by one parent
MathGuru is built and maintained by a single parent in evenings, not by a venture-funded company chasing growth. A quiet, durable project â not a startup chasing a quick exit.