subtracting large numbers, subtracting three digit numbers, subtracting two digit numbers

To subtract numbers with more than one digit follow the below steps:

1. Write down the larger number first and the smaller number directly below it so that the columns are lined up.
    
2. Subtract one column at a time starting with the ones place.

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Let's start with an easy example:

57 − 24 = ?

Write the numbers one below the other such that the place value of both numbers should fall in the same column. The number that you are taking from goes on top and the number that you are taking away is on the bottom.

   

Now start by subtracting the digit at 'ones' place, i.e. 7 − 4 = 3 and then move one column to the left which is the 'tens' place and subtract 5 − 2 = 3

Keep in mind that the place value of the digits in the same column should match. 

Let's take another example:

253 − 27 = ?

Write two numbers one below the other. 

Start subtracting the digits in the one's place. As 3 is less than 7, it needs to borrow from the left top number 5. A ten is taken from '50' and given to 3 to make it 13 instead of 3. But since '10' is taken away from '50'(5 in the tens place) leaving only '40'(4 in the tens place). This is called borrowing or regrouping in subtraction, sometimes you need a little bit extra in order to do your subtraction, so you use an amount from the column to the left. In subtraction, you borrow when you are subtracting one number that is greater than another, like the case here where you need to subtract 7 from 3!

Now we can easily subtract 7 from 13, giving 6

In tens place, subtract 2 from 4, 4 − 2 = 2

In the hundreds place, no digit in the bottom number hence 2−0 = 2

Therefore, the answer to 253−27 = 226

Let's take another example:

105 − 27=?

Write the numbers one below the other:

Again we start from ones place. As 5 < 7, it needs to borrow from the left digit '0'. But the digit in the tens column is a 0, so you can't borrow from there. When borrowing from the next column isn't an option, you need to borrow from the nearest non-zero column to the left. In this example, the column you need to borrow from is hundreds place.

Here 0 borrows from 1 to become 10 therefore 1 is reduced to 0 at the hundreds place.

10 gives 1 to the ones place to become 9. At the ones place after borrowing, 5 becomes 15

Subtract 7 from 15 in the ones place; 2 from 9 in the tens place and we are not left with any value at the hundreds place after borrowing

Therefore, 105 − 27 = 78