Subtraction Table for 16
Each row subtracts numbers 1 through 12 from 16. Subtraction is the inverse of addition and appears in change-making, scores, and measurements.
Every difference here stays whole and non-negative — the smallest is 16 − 12 = 4. Subtract an even number and parity survives; subtract an odd and it flips: 16 − 3 = 13. Taking away 10 moves only the tens digit: 16 − 10 = 6, and nothing else in the number moves. Read the difference column bottom-up and it climbs, one step at a time, back to 15 — a countdown fully reversed.
| Subtrahend | Difference |
|---|---|
| 16 − 1 | 15 |
| 16 − 2 | 14 |
| 16 − 3 | 13 |
| 16 − 4 | 12 |
| 16 − 5 | 11 |
| 16 − 6 | 10 |
| 16 − 7 | 9 |
| 16 − 8 | 8 |
| 16 − 9 | 7 |
| 16 − 10 | 6 |
| 16 − 11 | 5 |
| 16 − 12 | 4 |
Frequently asked questions
What is 16 − 4?
16 − 4 = 12.
What does the difference column mean?
The difference is the result after subtracting — here, the second number in each row, such as 16 − 2 = 14.
Is subtraction commutative?
No — swapping the order changes the result: 16 − 3 = 13, but 3 − 16 = -13. That is why reading the row direction matters.