Subtracting three-digit numbers can seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice, it becomes a breeze! Think of it like a fun puzzle where you’re taking away one amount from another to discover what’s left. We’ll break it down into simple steps.
Imagine you’re at the store and you have \$542. You want to buy something that costs \$211. How much money will you have left? That’s exactly the kind of problem we’re going to tackle in this article. Lets make subtracting 3 digit numbers a simple task.
Mastering Subtracting 3 Digit Numbers
First, always start with the ones place. Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit. For example, in 542 – 211, you would subtract 1 from 2. That’s easy 2 – 1 = 1. Write the answer (1) below the line in the ones place.
Next, move on to the tens place. Again, subtract the bottom digit from the top digit. In our example, that’s 4 – 1 = 3. Write the 3 below the line in the tens place. So far, our answer looks like 31. It is going smoothly subtracting 3 digit numbers.
Finally, tackle the hundreds place! Subtract the bottom digit from the top digit. In this case, it’s 5 – 2 = 3. Write the 3 below the line in the hundreds place. Now, your final answer is 331. That wasn’t so bad, was it?
But what if the bottom digit is bigger than the top digit? Thats when “borrowing” comes into play! Let’s say you have 423 – 151. In the tens place, you can’t subtract 5 from 2. Dont worry you can borrow from the hundreds place.
When you borrow, you take 1 from the hundreds place and add 10 to the tens place. So, the 4 in the hundreds place becomes a 3, and the 2 in the tens place becomes a 12. Now you can subtract: 12 – 5 = 7. Subtracting 3 digit numbers becomes so simple!
Practice makes perfect! Try creating your own three-digit subtraction problems or finding them in workbooks. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. Soon, subtracting 3 digit numbers will be second nature to you!
Now that you’ve learned the basics of subtracting 3 digit numbers, why not challenge yourself? Try solving some more complex problems with borrowing. You can also create your own word problems to make it even more engaging. Keep practicing, and you’ll be a subtraction whiz in no time! Remember, every great mathematician started somewhere.