Subtraction

Subtraction

In column subtraction numbers are arranged in columns and may be borrowed from one column to another during subtraction, for example:


To subtract '5812 - 1275'


column-subtraction


Starting with the units column, as 2 is less than 5, we have to borrow 10 from the tens column. So 2 becomes 12, and in the tens column, 1 becomes 0.  Therefore 12 - 5 = 7.


Next, we subtract the tens column. As 0 is less than 7, we have to borrow 10 from the hundreds column. So 0 becomes 10, and in the hundreds column, 8 becomes 7. Therefore 10 - 7 = 3.


Next, we subtract the hundreds column. 7 - 2 = 5.


Lastly, we add the thousands column. 5 - 1 = 4.


Therefore the answer is 4537.

 

 

 

 

 

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