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Subtraction with Larger Numbers
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When doing subtraction with numbers that are too large to do in our heads, we have steps, or a pattern to follow, to help us do the subtraction correctly.

Steps for Subtraction (Whole Numbers)

  1. Put the bigger number on top of the smaller number.
  2. Stack the numbers so the digits are in columns according to their place value.
  3. Regroup when needed.
  4. Subtract starting with the column on the right and go left.

Regrouping

Regrouping is a way to subtract a larger number from a smaller number within the same place value column. It is done by taking 10 away from the place value to the left and adding that 10 to the number that needs to be bigger on the right.

Steps for Subtraction

Video Source (03:22 mins) | Transcript

Regrouping

Video Source (06:12 mins) | Transcript

Additional Resources

Practice Problems

Evaluate the following expression:
  1. \(64 - 32 = ?\) (
    Solution
    x
    Solution: 32
    Details:
    Using place value to subtract, put the 6 in the tens place and the 4 in the ones place.
    This is a box with two vertical columns: Tens and Ones. The number 6 is placed in the tens column and the number 4 is placed in the ones column.

    Next, put the 3 in the tens place and the 2 in the ones place.
    This is the same image as the previous one except there is now a number 3 placed below number the 6 and in the tens column and there is a number 2 placed below the number 4 in the ones column.

    Subtract the numbers in the ones place.
    \(4 − 2 = 2\)
    This is the same image as the previous one except that now there is a blue answer box below both columns. There is also a subtraction symbol to the left of the tens column. In the ones column of the blue answer box is a number 2.

    Finally, subtract the numbers in the tens place.
    \(6 − 3 = 3\)
    This is the same image as the previous image except now there is also a number 3 in the tens column of the blue answer box .

    The answer: \(64 − 32 = 32\)
    )
  2. \(357 - 34 = ?\) (
    Solution
    x
    Solution: 323
    Details:
    Using place value to subtract. Place the 3 in the hundreds place, the 5 in the tens place and the 7 in the ones place.
    This image displays three columns. At the top of each column, reading from left to right are the titles, 'Hundreds, Tens, Ones.' Numbers are under the titles in the columns. Under the hundreds column is the number 3. Under the tens column is the number 5. Under the ones column is the number 7.

    Now, place the 3 in the tens place and the 4 in the ones place.
    This is the same as the previous image except a 3 is placed below number 5 in the Tens column and 4 is placed below number 7 in the Ones column.

    Subtract the numbers in the ones place column. \(7 − 4 = 3\)
    This is the same as the previous image except there is now a subtraction symbol to the left of all the numbers and a blue solution box spanning the three columns at the bottom. In the solution box in the ones column is a number 3.

    Subtract the numbers in the tens place column. \(5 − 3 = 2\)
    This is the same as the previous image except there is now a 2 in the tens column of the solution box at the bottom.

    Subtract the numbers in the hundreds column. Since 3 is the only number in this column, the answer is 3. Or in other words, 3 subtract 0 is 3.
    This is the same as the previous image except there is now a 3 in the hundreds column of the solution box at the bottom. So the solution at the bottom now reads 323.

    The answer to \(357 − 34\) is \(323\).
    )
  3. \(963 - 69 = ?\) (
    Solution
    x
    Solution:
    894
    )
  4. \(884 - 500 = ?\) (
    Solution
    x
    Solution:
    384
    )
  5. \(800 - 263 = ?\) (
    Video Solution
    x
    Solution: 537
    Details:

    (Video Source | Transcript)
    )
  6. \(577 - 284 = ?\) (
    Solution
    x
    Solution:
    293
    )
  7. \(954 - 597 = ?\) (
    Video Solution
    x
    Solution: 357
    Details:

    (Video Source | Transcript)
    )

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