Solution - Long subtraction

Step-by-step explanation

Why learn this

Terms and topics

1. Rewrite the numbers from top to bottom, aligned by their place values

2. Subtract the numbers using long subtraction method

3.173

3.173

See steps

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths

	1	2	.	3	2
-		9	.	1	4	7
			.

Put zeros in the blank number places:

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths

	1	2	.	3	2	0
-		9	.	1	4	7
			.

Because the upper digit (0) in the thousandths column is too small to get a positive difference, borrow 1 from the digit (2) in the next number place which becomes (1) and get (10).

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
					1	10
	1	2	.	3	2	0
-		9	.	1	4	7
			.

Subtract the numbers in the thousandths column from the top number:
10-0-7=3

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
					1	10
	1	2	.	3	2	0
-		9	.	1	4	7
			.			3

Because the upper digit (1) in the hundredths column is too small to get a positive difference, borrow 1 from the digit (3) in the next number place which becomes (2) and get (11).

Subtract the numbers in the hundredths column from the top number:
11-4=7

Subtract the numbers in the tenths column from the top number:
2-1=1

Because the upper digit (2) in the ones column is too small to get a positive difference, borrow 1 from the digit (1) in the next number place which becomes (0) and get (12).

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
	0	12
				2	11
					1	10
	1	2	.	3	2	0
-		9	.	1	4	7
			.	1	7	3

Subtract the numbers in the ones column from the top number:
12-9=3

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
	0	12
				2	11
					1	10
	1	2	.	3	2	0
-		9	.	1	4	7
		3	.	1	7	3

Write 0 in the tens place.

Place value	tens	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
	0	12
				2	11
					1	10
	1	2	.	3	2	0
-		9	.	1	4	7
	0	3	.	1	7	3

The solution is: 3.173

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Place value

hundredths

thousandths

Long substraction