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Guias de estudo > Prealgebra

Subtracting Whole Numbers

Learning Outcomes

  • Subtract single-digit numbers and check the solution using addition
  • Use columns representing place value to subtract multiple-digit numbers
 

Subtract Whole Numbers

Addition and subtraction are inverse operations. Addition undoes subtraction, and subtraction undoes addition. We know 73=47 - 3=4 because 4+3=74+3=7. Knowing all the addition number facts will help with subtraction. Then we can check subtraction by adding. In the examples above, our subtractions can be checked by addition.
73=47-3=4 because 4+3=74+3=7
138=513-8=5 because 5+8=135+8=13
4326=1743-26=17 because 17+26=4317+26=43

Exercise

Subtract and then check by adding:
  • 979 - 7
  • 838 - 3.
Solution
1.
979 - 7
Subtract 7 from 9. 22
Check with addition. 2+7=92+7=9\quad\checkmark
2.
838 - 3
Subtract 3 from 8. 55
Check with addition. 5+3=85+3=8\quad\checkmark
 
    To subtract numbers with more than one digit, it is usually easier to write the numbers vertically in columns just as we did for addition. Align the digits by place value, and then subtract each column starting with the ones and then working to the left.

Exercise

Subtract and then check by adding: 896189 - 61.

Answer: Solution

Write the numbers so the ones and tens digits line up vertically. \begin{array}{c}\hfill 89\\ \hfill \underset{\text{____}}{-61}\end{array}
Subtract the digits in each place value. Subtract the ones: 91=89 - 1=8 Subtract the tens: 86=28 - 6=2 \begin{array}{c}\hfill 89\\ \hfill \underset{\text{____}}{-61}\\ \hfill 28\end{array}
Check using addition. \begin{array}{c}\hfill 28\\ \hfill \underset{\text{____}}{+61}\\ \hfill 89\end{array}\quad\checkmark
Our answer is correct.

  When we modeled subtracting 2626 from 4343, we exchanged 11 ten for 1010 ones. When we do this without the model, we say we borrow 11 from the tens place and add 1010 to the ones place.

Find the difference of whole numbers

  1. Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically.
  2. Subtract the digits in each place value. Work from right to left starting with the ones place. If the digit on top is less than the digit below, borrow as needed.
  3. Continue subtracting each place value from right to left, borrowing if needed.
  4. Check by adding.
 

excercise

Subtract: 432643 - 26.

Answer: Solution

Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically. ..
Subtract the ones. We cannot subtract 66 from 33, so we borrow 11 ten. This makes 33 tens and 1313 ones. We write these numbers above each place and cross out the original digits. ..
Now we can subtract the ones. 136=713 - 6=7. We write the 77 in the ones place in the difference. ..
Now we subtract the tens. 32=13 - 2=1. We write the11 in the tens place in the difference. ..
Check by adding. .. Our answer is correct.

   

Exercise

Subtract and then check by adding: 20764207 - 64.

Answer: Solution

Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically. ..
Subtract the ones. 74=37 - 4=3. Write the 33 in the ones place in the difference. Write the 33 in the ones place in the difference. ..
Subtract the tens. We cannot subtract66 from00 so we borrow 11 hundred and add1010 tens to the00 tens we had. This makes a total of1010 tens. We write1010 above the tens place and cross out the00. Then we cross out the22 in the hundreds place and write11 above it. ..
Now we subtract the tens. 106=410 - 6=4. We write the 4 in the tens place in the difference. ..
Finally, subtract the hundreds. There is no digit in the hundreds place in the bottom number so we can imagine a 00 in that place. Since 10=11 - 0=1, we write11 in the hundreds place in the difference. ..
Check by adding. .. Our answer is correct.

 

try it

Subtract and then check by adding: 43952439 - 52.

Answer: 43952=387439 − 52 = 387 because 387+52=439387 + 52 = 439\quad\checkmark

  Subtract and then check by adding: 31875318 - 75.

Answer: 31875=243318 − 75 = 243 because 243+75=318243 + 75 = 318\quad\checkmark

Exercise

Subtract and then check by adding: 910586910 - 586.

Answer: Solution

Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically. ..
Subtract the ones. We cannot subtract 66 from00, so we borrow 11 ten and add1010 ones to the1010 ones we had. This makes1010 ones. We write a00 above the tens place and cross out the11. We write the1010 above the ones place and cross out the00. Now we can subtract the ones. 106=410 - 6=4. ..
Write the 4 in the ones place of the difference. ..
Subtract the tens. We cannot subtract 88 from 00, so we borrow 11 hundred and add 1010 tens to the 00 tens we had, which gives us 1010 tens. Write 88 above the hundreds place and cross out the99. Write1010 above the tens place. ..
Now we can subtract the tens. 108=210 - 8=2 . ..
Subtract the hundreds place. 85=38 - 5=3 Write the33 in the hundreds place in the difference. ..
Check by adding. ... Our answer is correct.

   

Exercise

Subtract and then check by adding: 2,1624792,162 - 479.

Answer: Solution

Write the numbers so each place values line up vertically. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-02.png
Subtract the ones. Since we cannot subtract 99 from 22, borrow 11 ten and add 1010 ones to the 22 ones to make 1212 ones. Write 55 above the tens place and cross out the 66. Write 1212 above the ones place and cross out the 22. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-03.png
Now we can subtract the ones. 129=312 - 9=3
Write 33 in the ones place in the difference. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-04.png
Subtract the tens. Since we cannot subtract 77 from 55, borrow 11 hundred and add 1010 tens to the 55 tens to make 1515 tens. Write 00 above the hundreds place and cross out the 11. Write 1515 above the tens place. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-06.png
Now we can subtract the tens. 157=815 - 7=8
Write 88 in the tens place in the difference. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-05.png
Now we can subtract the hundreds. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-07.png
Write 66 in the hundreds place in the difference. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-08.png
Subtract the thousands. There is no digit in the thousands place of the bottom number, so we imagine a 00. 10=11 - 0=1. Write 11 in the thousands place of the difference. CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-09.png
Check by adding. \begin{array}{}\\ \stackrel{1}{1},\stackrel{1}{6}\stackrel{1}{8}3\hfill \\ \underset{\text{______}}{+479}\hfill \\ 2,162\quad\checkmark \hfill \end{array}\quad\checkmark
Our answer is correct.

    Watch the video below to see another example of subtracting whole numbers by lining up place values. https://youtu.be/hneqy1EGACs

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