diff --git a/src/factor/rank_diff.rs b/src/factor/rank_diff.rs
index 9ecf995..40a47d8 100644
--- a/src/factor/rank_diff.rs
+++ b/src/factor/rank_diff.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 use crate::factor::{Factor, VarId, VarStore};
 
+/// Maintains the constraint `diff = team_a - team_b` between three vars.
+///
+/// On each propagation:
+/// - Reads marginals at `team_a` and `team_b` (which already incorporate any
+///   incoming messages from neighboring factors).
+/// - Computes `new_diff = team_a - team_b` (variance addition; see Gaussian::Sub).
+/// - Writes the new marginal to `diff`.
+/// - Returns the delta against the previous diff value.
+///
+/// This factor does NOT store an outgoing message; the diff variable is
+/// effectively replaced on each propagation. The TruncFactor on the same diff
+/// var holds the EP-divide message that produces the cavity.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub(crate) struct RankDiffFactor {
     pub(crate) team_a: VarId,
@@ -8,7 +20,76 @@ pub(crate) struct RankDiffFactor {
 }
 
 impl Factor for RankDiffFactor {
-    fn propagate(&mut self, _vars: &mut VarStore) -> (f64, f64) {
-        unimplemented!("RankDiffFactor stub — implemented in Task 5")
+    fn propagate(&mut self, vars: &mut VarStore) -> (f64, f64) {
+        let a = vars.get(self.team_a);
+        let b = vars.get(self.team_b);
+        let new_diff = a - b;
+        let old = vars.get(self.diff);
+        vars.set(self.diff, new_diff);
+        old.delta(new_diff)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::{N_INF, gaussian::Gaussian};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn diff_of_two_known_gaussians() {
+        let mut vars = VarStore::new();
+        let team_a = vars.alloc(Gaussian::from_ms(25.0, 3.0));
+        let team_b = vars.alloc(Gaussian::from_ms(20.0, 4.0));
+        let diff = vars.alloc(N_INF);
+
+        let mut f = RankDiffFactor {
+            team_a,
+            team_b,
+            diff,
+        };
+        f.propagate(&mut vars);
+
+        let result = vars.get(diff);
+        // mu = 25 - 20 = 5; var = 9 + 16 = 25; sigma = 5
+        assert!((result.mu() - 5.0).abs() < 1e-12);
+        assert!((result.sigma() - 5.0).abs() < 1e-12);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn delta_zero_on_repeat() {
+        let mut vars = VarStore::new();
+        let team_a = vars.alloc(Gaussian::from_ms(10.0, 2.0));
+        let team_b = vars.alloc(Gaussian::from_ms(8.0, 1.0));
+        let diff = vars.alloc(N_INF);
+
+        let mut f = RankDiffFactor {
+            team_a,
+            team_b,
+            diff,
+        };
+        f.propagate(&mut vars);
+        let (dmu, dsig) = f.propagate(&mut vars);
+        assert!(dmu < 1e-12);
+        assert!(dsig < 1e-12);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn delta_reflects_team_change() {
+        let mut vars = VarStore::new();
+        let team_a = vars.alloc(Gaussian::from_ms(10.0, 1.0));
+        let team_b = vars.alloc(Gaussian::from_ms(0.0, 1.0));
+        let diff = vars.alloc(N_INF);
+
+        let mut f = RankDiffFactor {
+            team_a,
+            team_b,
+            diff,
+        };
+        f.propagate(&mut vars);
+
+        // change team_a, repropagate; delta should be positive
+        vars.set(team_a, Gaussian::from_ms(15.0, 1.0));
+        let (dmu, _dsig) = f.propagate(&mut vars);
+        assert!(dmu > 4.0, "expected ~5 delta, got {}", dmu);
     }
 }