Solution - Long subtraction

5.272

5.272

See steps

Step-by-step explanation

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

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths

	6	.	3	5
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.

Put zeros in the blank number places:

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths

	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.

2. Subtract the numbers using long subtraction method

Because the upper digit (0) in the thousandths 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 (10).

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
				4	10
	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.

Subtract the numbers in the thousandths column from the top number:
10-0-8=2

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
				4	10
	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.			2

Because the upper digit (4) 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 (14).

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
			2	14
				4	10
	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.			2

Subtract the numbers in the hundredths column from the top number:
14-7=7

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
			2	14
				4	10
	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.		7	2

Subtract the numbers in the tenths column from the top number:
2-0=2

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
			2	14
				4	10
	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
		.	2	7	2

Subtract the numbers in the ones column from the top number:
6-1=5

Place value	ones	.	tenths	hundredths	thousandths
			2	14
				4	10
	6	.	3	5	0
-	1	.	0	7	8
	5	.	2	7	2

The solution is: 5.272

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Terms and topics

Long substraction