Solution - Long subtraction
21.03
Step-by-step explanation
1. Rewrite the numbers from top to bottom, aligned by their place values
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 5 | 9 | ||||
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| . |
Put zeros in the blank number places:
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 5 | 9 | . | 0 | 0 | |
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| . |
2. Subtract the numbers using long subtraction method
Because the upper digit (0) in the hundredths column is too small to get a positive difference, borrow 1 from the number to the left (9.0) which becomes (8.9) and get (10).
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| 5 | 9 | . | 0 | 0 | |
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| . |
Subtract the numbers in the hundredths column from the top number:
10-0-7=3
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| 5 | 9 | . | 0 | 0 | |
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| . | 3 |
Subtract the numbers in the tenths column from the top number:
9-9=0
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| 5 | 9 | . | 0 | 0 | |
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| . | 0 | 3 |
Subtract the numbers in the ones column from the top number:
8-7=1
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| 5 | 9 | . | 0 | 0 | |
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| 1 | . | 0 | 3 |
Subtract the numbers in the tens column from the top number:
5-3=2
| Place value | tens | ones | . | tenths | hundredths |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | |||
| 5 | 9 | . | 0 | 0 | |
| - | 3 | 7 | . | 9 | 7 |
| 2 | 1 | . | 0 | 3 |
The solution is: 21.03
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