<h2>Subtracting Whole Numbers</h2>
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<h3>How to Find the Difference of Whole Numbers:</h3>
<ol>
<li>Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Continue subtracting each place value from right to left, borrowing if needed.</li>
<li>Check by adding.</li>
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<h3>Example</h3>
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<p>Subtract: \(43-26.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
<table data-label="" style="width: 770px;" summary=".">
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<td style="width: 677px;">Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically.</td>
<td style="width: 81px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c0eb3af6-79b7-4920-a3b9-7234c0bd825a"/></td>
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<td style="width: 677px;">Subtract the ones. We cannot subtract 6 from 3, so we borrow 1 ten. This makes 3 tens and 13 ones. We write these numbers above each place and cross out the original digits.</td>
<td style="width: 81px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/f209e562-f82c-4cd8-863f-0ed4c70a544c"/></td>
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<td style="width: 677px;">Now we can subtract the ones. \(13-6=7.\) We write the 7 in the ones place in the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 81px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/39a40c10-873c-45fd-90b6-85eb9692382e"/></td>
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<td style="width: 677px;">Now we subtract the tens. \(3-2=1.\) We write the 1 in the tens place in the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 81px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/701c073f-42cc-4096-b7e6-8e6356b054ef"/></td>
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<td style="width: 677px;">Check by adding.

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<img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/be2b2740-39d7-4a34-b918-be2dba9d59aa"/><br/>
 Our answer is correct.</td>
<td style="width: 81px;"> </td>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(93-58.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution </h4>
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<p>93 − 58 = 35 because 58 + 35 = 93</p>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(81-39.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<p>81 − 39 = 42 because 42 + 39 = 81</p>
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<h3>Example</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(207-64.\) </p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<td style="width: 671px;">Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically.</td>
<td style="width: 87px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/9544037f-2890-4e7a-a30f-03dbcb74c423"/></td>
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<td style="width: 671px;">Subtract the ones. \(7-4=3.\)<br/>
 Write the 3 in the ones place in the difference. Write the 3 in the ones place in the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 87px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/ebdc1175-19a4-4f8c-bf3c-6ee28b9d8c27"/></td>
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<td style="width: 671px;">Subtract the tens. We cannot subtract 6 from 0 so we borrow 1 hundred and add 10 tens to the 0 tens we had. This makes a total of 10 tens. We write 10 above the tens place and cross out the 0. Then we cross out the 2 in the hundreds place and write 1 above it.</td>
<td style="width: 87px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/d4069018-aa26-4489-843d-653def2fbd38"/></td>
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<td style="width: 671px;">Now we subtract the tens. \(10-6=4.\) We write the 4 in the tens place in the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 87px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/2b825e48-07ce-4ab1-bb31-692d75058c71"/></td>
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<td style="width: 671px;">Finally, subtract the hundreds. There is no digit in the hundreds place in the bottom number so we can imagine a 0 in that place. Since \(1-0=1,\) we write 1 in the hundreds place in the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 87px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/be86ef1d-2012-45cf-a79c-8c2b1c599666"/></td>
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<td style="width: 671px;">Check by adding.<br/>
<img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/b2a573df-03d9-4467-9db2-e212854ea505"/><br/>
 Our answer is correct.</td>
<td style="width: 87px;"> </td>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(439-52.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<p>439 − 52 = 387 because 387 + 52 = 439</p>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(318-75.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<p>318 − 75 = 243 because 243 + 75 = 318</p>
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<h3>Example</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(910-586.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically.</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/824443a2-85dc-42e0-b224-c64eefdbc905"/></td>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Subtract the ones. We cannot subtract 6 from 0, so we borrow 1 ten and add 10 ones to the 10 ones we had. This makes 10 ones. We write a 0 above the tens place and cross out the 1. We write the 10 above the ones place and cross out the 0. Now we can subtract the ones. \(10-6=4.\)</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/387f786d-7b87-4839-ae06-f870409b7ce3"/></td>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Write the 4 in the ones place of the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/569d1bb8-2709-4c00-bbc6-695e9ba511a7"/></td>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Subtract the tens. We cannot subtract 8 from 0, so we borrow 1 hundred and add 10 tens to the 0 tens we had, which gives us 10 tens. Write 8 above the hundreds place and cross out the 9. Write 10 above the tens place.</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c8e0ed32-fb4a-4dca-94ae-9f8bdc1d21df"/></td>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Now we can subtract the tens. \(10-8=2\).</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/8201805a-86c3-4e4f-a9cf-30ef3e053b8b"/></td>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Subtract the hundreds place. \(8-5=3\) Write the 3 in the hundreds place in the difference.</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"><img alt=".." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c425d207-b7b5-4617-b584-388f5af09a5a"/></td>
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<td style="width: 667px;">Check by adding.<br/>
<img alt="..." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c84366ff-ec3c-4cd2-b115-1f1089dcc0e8"/><br/>
 Our answer is correct.</td>
<td style="width: 91px;"> </td>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(832-376.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<p>832 − 376 = 456 because 456 + 376 = 832</p>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(847-578.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution </h4>
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<p>847 − 578 = 269 because 269 + 578 = 847</p>
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<h3>Example</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(2,162-479.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
<table data-label="" summary="This image is two columns. The left column includes annotations and the right column includes math expressions. The first line reads “Write the numbers so each place value lines up vertically.” This is followed by 2,162 minus 479 shown vertically. The next line says “Subtract the ones. We cannot subtract 9 from 2, so we borrow 1 ten and add 10 ones to the 2 ones we had, which makes 12 ones. Write 5 above the tens place and cross out the 6.Write 5 above the ones place and cross out the 2. Write 12 above the ones place and cross out the 2.” Next to this is the vertical expression 2,162 minus 479 with the 6 crossed out and replaced with a 5 and the 2 crossed out and replaced with a 12 to show borrowing. The next line is “Now we can subtract the ones.” which is followed by 12 minus 9 equals 3. The next line says “Write 3 in the ones place in the difference.” Next to this is the vertical expression 2,162 minus 479 with a three placed in the ones column. The next line reads “subtract the tens. We cannot subtract 7 from 5 so we borrow 1 hundred and add 10 tens to the 5 tens we had, for a total of 15 tens. Write 0 above the hundreds place and cross out the 1. Write 15 above the tens place.” This is followed by the same vertical expression but with the carried 5 crossed out and replaced with 15 and the one crossed our and replaced with 0. The next line reads “now we can subtract the tens.” followed by 15 minus 7 equals 8. The next line is “Write 8 in the tens place in the difference.” Next to this is the same vertical expression with the 8 in the tens place. The next line reads “subtract the hundreds. We cannot subtract 4 from 0, so we borrow 1 thousand and add 10 hundreds to the 0 hundreds we have, which gives us a total of 10 hundreds. Write a 1 above the thousands place and cross out the 2. Write 10 above the hundreds place.” This is followed by the same vertical expression in which the carried zero is crossed out and replaced with a 10, and the 2 is crossed out and replaced with a 1. The next line says “now we can subtract the hundreds followed by the expression 10 minus 4 equals 6. The next line says to write 6 in the hundreds place in the difference. Next to it is the vertical expression with the 6 now in the hundreds place. The final line says “subtract the thousands. There is no digit in the thousands place of the bottom number, so we imagine a 0. 1 minus 0 equals 1. Write 1 in the thousands place of the difference. Next to this is the same vertical expressions with the full answer 1, 683.">
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<td>Write the numbers so each place values line up vertically.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-02.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/200b8bca-0aef-446e-be7f-5a8cb2cfa999"/></td>
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<td>Subtract the ones. Since we cannot subtract 9 from 2, borrow 1 ten and add 10 ones to the 2 ones to make 12 ones. Write 5 above the tens place and cross out the 6. Write 12 above the ones place and cross out the 2.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-03.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/8780c10f-f473-4bd1-a63c-910341210d14"/></td>
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<td>Now we can subtract the ones.</td>
<td>\(12-9=3\)</td>
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<td>Write 3 in the ones place in the difference.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-04.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/b8c5bac1-c393-4b8f-8b5e-808e097f0091"/></td>
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<td>Subtract the tens. Since we cannot subtract 7 from 5, borrow 1 hundred and add 10 tens to the 5 tens to make 15 tens. Write 0 above the hundreds place and cross out the 1. Write 15 above the tens place.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-06.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/a1bdc0ee-fbc8-4f60-b703-fc060e1a33a9"/></td>
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<td>Now we can subtract the tens.</td>
<td>\(15-7=8\)</td>
</tr>
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<td>Write 8 in the tens place in the difference.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-05.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/f4d0a639-affc-48ec-a0d6-2081fa85327b"/></td>
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<td>Now we can subtract the hundreds.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-07.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/6f1a4edb-1843-4143-92a4-3b015bca46f5"/></td>
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<td>Write 6 in the hundreds place in the difference.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-08.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/846a5862-f62e-4971-b2b0-a44e85c299ab"/></td>
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<td>Subtract the thousands. There is no digit in the thousands place of the bottom number, so we imagine a \(1-0=1.\) Write 1 in the thousands place of the difference.</td>
<td><img alt="CNX_BMath_Figure_01_03_028_img-09.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/b9f11e98-9bf4-4e8e-babb-fec3242816d2"/></td>
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<td>Check by adding.

<div>\(\begin{array}{}\\ \phantom{\rule{1em}{0ex}}\stackrel{1}{1},\stackrel{1}{6}\stackrel{1}{8}3\hfill \\ \phantom{\rule{0.71em}{0ex}}+\phantom{\rule{0.55em}{0ex}}479\hfill \\ \hline \phantom{\rule{1.1em}{0ex}}2,\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}162✓\hfill \end{array}\)</div>
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<td> </td>
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<p>Our answer is correct.</p>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(4,585-697.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
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<p>4,585 − 697 = 3,888 because 3,888 + 697 = 4,585</p>
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<h3>Extra:</h3>
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<p>Subtract and then check by adding: \(5,637-899.\)</p>
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<h4>Solution</h4>
<section>
<p>5,637 − 899 = 4,738 because 4,738 + 899 = 5,637</p>
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<h2>Optional Video: Subtracting Whole Numbers</h2>
<p>This video below by <a href="http://www.mathispower4u.com/">Mathispower4u</a> explains how to subtract whole numbers and provides several examples.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNvd6IKqbeQ?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;cc_lang_pref=en&amp;cc_load_policy=1" width="640"></iframe></p>

77e14597-4d58-4399-be3f-b1bb5c28bc54

Subtracting Whole Numbers

Mathematics studies measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are popular topics in mathematics.

Mathematics

Explore the world of numbers and learn about their history, properties, and applications, including place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.


Subtracting Whole Numbers

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