Subtraction of Large Numbers Calculator

Approach

Step 1

Step 1 - Write the two numbers in columns, aligned on the right (ones under ones). Put the − sign to the left of the bottom number, and draw a line underneath.

In this problem: In column subtraction, we put the larger number on top so each column works cleanly. Here, \(84\) is larger than or equal to \(27\), so we can subtract directly. We put the \(-\) sign to the left of the bottom number, draw the line underneath, and start from the ones column on the right.

Step 2

Step 2 - Starting from the rightmost column, subtract column-by-column moving right to left. If you cannot subtract in a column, borrow from the column to the left, then subtract. This repeats once for every column, moving right to left.

In this problem: The top number has \(2\) digits, so we will subtract \(2\) columns, moving right to left. The lettered steps below work through them one at a time, with an extra step wherever a column has to borrow first.

Step 2a

Step 2a - When the top digit in a column is too small to subtract from, borrow from the nearest column to its left that is not zero. Take one away from that digit and add ten to the column on its right, passing the borrow along one column at a time until it reaches the column you are working on.

In this problem: We need to borrow because \(4\) in the ones column is smaller than \(7\).
Take 1 from the tens column, so \(8\) becomes \(7\), and add 10 to the ones column, so \(4\) becomes \(14\).

Step 2b

Step 2b - Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in this column and write the result underneath the line.

In this problem: \(14 - 7 = 7\) → write \(7\) under the ones column.

Step 2c

Step 2c - Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in this column and write the result underneath the line.

In this problem: \(7 - 2 = 5\) → write \(5\) under the tens column.

Final Answer

Approach

Step 1

Step 1 - Write the two numbers in columns, aligned on the right (ones under ones). Put the − sign to the left of the bottom number, and draw a line underneath.

In this problem: In column subtraction, we put the larger number on top so each column works cleanly. Here, \(1000\) is larger than or equal to \(587\), so we can subtract directly. We put the \(-\) sign to the left of the bottom number, draw the line underneath, and start from the ones column on the right.

Step 2

Step 2 - Starting from the rightmost column, subtract column-by-column moving right to left. If you cannot subtract in a column, borrow from the column to the left, then subtract. This repeats once for every column, moving right to left.

In this problem: The top number has \(4\) digits, so we will subtract \(4\) columns, moving right to left. The lettered steps below work through them one at a time, with an extra step wherever a column has to borrow first.

Step 2a

Step 2a - When the top digit in a column is too small to subtract from, borrow from the nearest column to its left that is not zero. Take one away from that digit and add ten to the column on its right, passing the borrow along one column at a time until it reaches the column you are working on.

In this problem: We need to borrow because \(0\) in the ones column is smaller than \(7\).
The columns just to the left are \(0\), so we borrow from the nearest column that is not zero, the thousands column, and pass it along one column at a time.
Take 1 from the thousands column, so \(1\) becomes \(0\), and add 10 to the hundreds column, so \(0\) becomes \(10\).

Step 2b

Step 2b - When the top digit in a column is too small to subtract from, borrow from the nearest column to its left that is not zero. Take one away from that digit and add ten to the column on its right, passing the borrow along one column at a time until it reaches the column you are working on.

In this problem: Take 1 from the hundreds column, so \(10\) becomes \(9\), and add 10 to the tens column, so \(0\) becomes \(10\).

Step 2c

Step 2c - When the top digit in a column is too small to subtract from, borrow from the nearest column to its left that is not zero. Take one away from that digit and add ten to the column on its right, passing the borrow along one column at a time until it reaches the column you are working on.

In this problem: Take 1 from the tens column, so \(10\) becomes \(9\), and add 10 to the ones column, so \(0\) becomes \(10\).

Step 2d

Step 2d - Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in this column and write the result underneath the line.

In this problem: \(10 - 7 = 3\) → write \(3\) under the ones column.

Step 2e

Step 2e - Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in this column and write the result underneath the line.

In this problem: \(9 - 8 = 1\) → write \(1\) under the tens column.

Step 2f

Step 2f - Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in this column and write the result underneath the line.

In this problem: \(9 - 5 = 4\) → write \(4\) under the hundreds column.

Step 2g

Step 2g - Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in this column and write the result underneath the line.

In this problem: \(0 - 0 = 0\) → this is a leading zero, so nothing is written under the thousands column.

Final Answer