Example of Subtraction

• First line up the numbers as per the place value (all the tens and the units lined up vertically). Put a line under the last number.

40
30

• Subtract the ones place numbers. (0 - 0 = 0). Write the zero in the ones place column.

40
30
 0

• Subtract the tens place digits (4 - 3 = 1) and write the answer below the line in the tens place column.

40
30
10

How to subtract two-digit numbers (for example 75 - 43).

• First line up the numbers as per the place value (all the tens and the units lined up vertically). Draw a line under the last number.

75
43

• Subtract the numbers in the ones place. (5-3=2) and write the 2 below the line in the ones place column.

75
43
 2

• Subtract the digits in the tens place column (7-4 = 3) and write the answer below the line in the tens place column.

75
43
32

Note: If the ones place number you are subtracting is greater than the top ones place number, then decrease the top tens place number by 1 and increase the top ones place value by 10 before subtracting.

How to subtract three digit numbers (for example 746 - 463)?

• First line up the numbers as per the place value (all the hundreds,tens and the ones lined up vertically). Draw a line under the last number.

746
463

• Subtract the numbers in the ones place column (6 - 3 = 3) and write the answer in the ones place column.

746
463
  3

• Subtract the digits in the tens place column (4 - 6 =?). Borrow 1 from the hundreds place to make the top tens place value greater than the bottom tens place value. After this is done, subtract (14 - 6 = 8) and write the 8 below the line in the tens place column.

6
746
463
 83

• Subtract the numbers in the hundreds place column (6 - 4 = 2) and write the answer below the line in the hundreds place column.

6
746
463
283

• First line up the digits as per the place value (all the hundreds, tens and the ones lined up vertically). Draw a line under the bottom number.

400
300

• Subtract the numbers in the ones place digits. (0 - 0 = 0) and write the answer below the line in the ones place column.

400
300
  0

• Subtract the tens place numbers (0 - 0 = 0) and place the answer below the line and to the tens place column

 400
 300
  00

• Subtract the digits in the hundreds place column (4- 3 = 1) and write the answer below the line in the hundreds place column.

  400
  300
  100

The Subtraction facts for 0, 1 and 2 are in the following table.

When 0 is subtracted to a first digit the answer is the first digit. (e.g. 6-0 = 6)

Subtracting 1 to any number is like decreasing by 1.

Subtracting 2 to any number is like decreasing by 2.

How to mentally subtract two-digit numbers?

Subtract 44 from 93.

• First subtract the two tens place numbers (9 - 4 = 5)
• If the bottom ones place number is greater than the top ones place number then decrease the answer for the tens digit by one (5 - 1 = 4) and increase the top ones place digit by 10 (3 + 10 = 13). Now subtract the two ones place numbers (13 - 4 = 9). Write the answer 49.

Subtract 62 from 84.

• First subtract the numbers in the tens place (8-6 = 2)
• Subtract the numbers in the ones place (4 - 2 = 2)
• Write the answer of 22

How to subtracting two numbers (for example 78 - 56 ) with a calculator?

• Type the first number by pressing the 7 button and the 8 button
• Press the minus operation button
• Type the number 56 by pressing the 5 button and the 6 button
• Press the = button to get the result

Try some yourself:

Exercise 1

1. 1000 - 877 =
2. 1000 - 233 =
3. 1000 - 534 =
4. 10,000 - 2455 =
5. 10,000 - 9876 =
6. 10,000 - 1012 =
7. 56 - 57 =
8. 2323 - 57 =
9. 1888 - 321 =
10. 567 - 38 =

Answers to exercise 1

1. 123
2. 767
3. 466
4. 7545
5. 0124
6. 8988
7. 1
8. 943
9. 9679
10. 529