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Math Tutorials » Whole Numbers » Subtracting Whole Numbers

Subtracting Whole Numbers

To subtract whole numbers you start on the right side in the 1s place. To subtract a larger digit from a smaller digit, you need to borrow from the next place value to the left. You cross off the 4 and write a 3 and make the 1 to 11. 11 minus 2 equals 9. Now you move to the 10s place. Again you cannot subtract 9 from 3 so you must borrow from the number to the left. You cross out the 6 and write a 5. Put a 1 in front of the 3 to make 13. 13 minus 9 is equal to 4. Then move to the hundreds place. 5 minus 0 equals 5, no need to borrow. Then move to the thousands place. 2 minus 1 equals 1. Thus your difference is 1 thousand 5 hundred 49.