Solution - Long subtraction

4, 476

4,476

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones

	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8

2. Subtract the numbers using long subtraction method

Because the upper digit (4) in the ones column is too small to get a positive difference, borrow 1 from the digit (7) in the next number place which becomes (6) and get (14).

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8

Subtract the numbers in the ones column from the top number:
14-8=6

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8
				6

Because the upper digit (6) in the tens 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 (16).

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
		2	16
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8
				6

Subtract the numbers in the tens column from the top number:
16-9=7

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
		2	16
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8
			7	6

Because the upper digit (2) in the hundreds column is too small to get a positive difference, borrow 1 from the digit (5) in the next number place which becomes (4) and get (12).

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
	4	12
		2	16
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8
			7	6

Subtract the numbers in the hundreds column from the top number:
12-8=4

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
	4	12
		2	16
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8
		4	7	6

Write 4 in the thousands place.

Place value	thousands	hundreds	tens	ones
	4	12
		2	16
			6	14
	5	3	7	4
-		8	9	8
	4	4	7	6

The solution is: 4,476

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Terms and topics

Long substraction