Introduction
Subtraction is a fundamental arithmetic operation that allows us to find the difference between two numbers. It is an essential skill that we use in everyday life, from calculating change at the store to solving complex mathematical problems. In this article, we will show you how to do subtraction on paper in simple steps.
Getting Started
Before we dive into the steps, let's review some basic terms used in subtraction:
- Minuend ??? This is the number you are subtracting from.
- Subtrahend ??? This is the number you are subtracting.
- Difference ??? This is the result of the subtraction.
Now that we have reviewed the terms let's move on to the steps.
Step 1: Write the Numbers
Start by writing the minuend on top and the subtrahend below it. Make sure to align the digits based on their place value. For example:
523
- 235
Step 2: Subtract the Ones Place
Begin by subtracting the ones place of the subtrahend from the ones place of the minuend. If the minuend digit is smaller than the subtrahend digit, you will need to borrow from the next place value. For example:
523
- 235
----
8
Step 3: Borrowing
If the minuend digit is smaller than the subtrahend digit, you will need to borrow from the next place value. For example:
523
- 235
----
8
In this case, we need to borrow from the tens place, so we subtract 1 from the 5 in the tens place and add 10 to the ones place of the minuend. This gives us:
4
13
Step 4: Subtract the Tens Place
Next, we subtract the tens place of the subtrahend from the tens place of the minuend:
4
13
- 3
-----
10
Step 5: Borrowing Again
If the minuend digit is smaller than the subtrahend digit, we need to borrow again. For example:
4
13
- 3
-----
10
In this case, we need to borrow from the hundreds place, so we subtract 1 from the 2 in the hundreds place and add 10 to the tens place of the minuend. This gives us:
3
13
- 3
-----
10
Step 6: Subtract the Hundreds Place
Finally, we subtract the hundreds place of the subtrahend from the hundreds place of the minuend:
3
13
- 2
-----
11
Step 7: Check Your Answer
Always check your answer to ensure that it is correct. You can do this by adding the subtrahend to the difference to make sure you get the minuend:
235
+ 288
------
523
Conclusion
Subtraction is an essential mathematical skill that is used in our everyday lives. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can learn how to do subtraction on paper easily. Remember to always check your answer to ensure accuracy.
