# Partial Difference Subtraction

> Partial Difference Subtraction (iPhone/iPad app by Esa Helttula.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/partial-difference-subtraction/id351023078 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Esa Helttula](https://appshunter.io/developer/339440196)
- Category: Education
- Price: $3.99
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 1 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2010-01-28
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/partial-difference-subtraction/id351023078/reviews.md

## What is Partial Difference Subtraction?

Partial Differences Subtraction helps students learn and practice the partial differences subtraction method step by step.

The app gives students a visual way to subtract numbers by working with each place value separately. The partial differences are then combined to find the final answer.

Students can solve randomly generated problems or enter their own subtraction problems. The number of digits can be adjusted for different skill levels.

The Partial Differences Method:

In the partial differences method, each place value is subtracted separately from left to right. For example, in 936 − 580, the partial differences are 400, −50, and 6. These are then combined to get the final answer: 356.

Teacher endorsement:

“The math apps by Esa Helttula allow students to practice and reinforce the specific computation strategies taught in class, with as much or as little scaffolding as necessary. They also provide individualized feedback to each student, with an immediacy that is not always possible through pencil and paper practice.”
— R. Zeni, Ecole Sandy Hill Elementary, Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Easy to Use:

The numbers are aligned automatically so students can focus on solving each column. After the student solves the operation for each column, the correct answer moves into the right place. If the student presses the wrong button, the answer appears above the keyboard but does not move.

Features:

- Step-by-step partial differences subtraction practice
- Each number can have 2–3 digits
- Randomly generated or manually entered problems
- Current operation for each column can be hidden
- Operands of the current operation can be highlighted
- Customizable interface colors
- Adjustable animation speed

Other iDevBooks Math Apps:

Other iDevBooks math apps include Column Addition, Long Multiplication, Long Division, Column Subtraction, Visual Multiplication Table, Partial Quotients Division, Partial Products Multiplication, Partial Sums Addition, Decimal Rounding, and more.

Feedback:

New ideas to make this app better are welcome. Please visit idevbooks.com to give feedback.

Privacy:

This app has no ads, no in-app purchases, and does not transmit user data during operation. The app also does not contain links to other apps or to the web.


## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 7.0 — 2026-06-30

Updated for iOS 26 compatibility.

### 6.5 — 2021-11-13

- support for iOS 15

### 6.0 — 2019-09-30

- support for iOS 13
- new interface with support for latest iPad and iPhone models
- new theme colors

### 5.2 — 2018-11-15

- support for iOS 12
- support for iPhone Xr and Xs Max
- minor bug fixes

### 5.1 — 2018-03-22

- support for iOS 11
- support for iPhone X

## More apps by Esa Helttula

- [Column Addition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/column-addition/id339440193)
- [Column Subtraction](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/column-subtraction/id341040894)
- [Long Division](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/long-division/id341041204)
- [Long Multiplication](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/long-multiplication/id345037369)
- [Partial Sums Addition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/partial-sums-addition/id351022022)
- [Trade-First Subtraction](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trade-first-subtraction/id351022585)

All apps by Esa Helttula: https://appshunter.io/developer/339440196

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*