Solution - Long subtraction
4.72
Step-by-step explanation
1. Rewrite the numbers from top to bottom, aligned by their place values
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | |
| . |
Put zeros in the blank number places:
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| . |
2. Subtract the numbers using long subtraction method
Subtract the numbers in the hundredths column from the top number:
2-0=2
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| . | 2 |
Because the upper digit (4) in the tenths 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 (14).
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 0 | 14 | ||||
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| . | 2 |
Subtract the numbers in the tenths column from the top number:
14-7=7
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 0 | 14 | ||||
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| . | 7 | 2 |
Because the upper digit (0) in the ones 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 (10).
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 2 | 10 | ||||
| 0 | 14 | ||||
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| . | 7 | 2 |
Subtract the numbers in the ones column from the top number:
10-6=4
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 2 | 10 | ||||
| 0 | 14 | ||||
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | . | 7 | 2 |
Subtract the numbers in the tens column from the top number:
2-2=0
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 2 | 10 | ||||
| 0 | 14 | ||||
| 3 | 1 | . | 4 | 2 | |
| - | 2 | 6 | . | 7 | 0 |
| 0 | 4 | . | 7 | 2 |
The solution is: 4.72
How did we do?
Please leave us feedback.Why learn this
Why learn this