Subtraction

Subtract Two-Digit Numbers Without Borrowing

Subtract 43 from 76 by subtracting each column from right to left. No borrowing is needed because each top digit is >= the bottom digit.

Example

Subtract 43 from 76 one column at a time. Each column represents its own place value, so we subtract ones from ones and tens from tens independently. Because every top digit is already at least as large as the one beneath it, no borrowing is needed and the column differences drop straight into the answer.

highlighted = computed this step

Step 1 — Set up

Line up the numbers by place value.

xxxx76−43x□□\begin{array}{rrr}\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}\\\phantom{x}&7&6\\-&4&3\\\hline\\\phantom{x}&\square&\square\end{array}
Line up 76 and 43 by placetens74ones63-76 - 43Subtract ones from ones, then tens from tens.

Step 2 — Ones column

Ones: 6 - 3 = 3, write 3.

xxxx76−43x□3\begin{array}{rrr}\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}\\\phantom{x}&7&6\\-&4&3\\\hline\\\phantom{x}&\square&\hl{3}\end{array}
Ones: 6 - 3 = 3, no borrowtens74ones633no borrow-6 - 3 = 3 ones6 is large enough to subtract 3, so no borrowing is needed.

Step 3 — Tens column

Tens: 7 - 4 = 3, write 3.

xxxx76−43x33\begin{array}{rrr}\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}\\\phantom{x}&7&6\\-&4&3\\\hline\\\phantom{x}&\hl{3}&3\end{array}
Tens: 7 - 4 = 3, no borrowtens743no borrowones63-7 - 4 = 3 tens7 is large enough to subtract 4, so no borrowing is needed.

Step 4 — Result

Read the complete difference: 33.

xxxx76−43x33\begin{array}{rrr}\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}&\phantom{x}\\\phantom{x}&7&6\\-&4&3\\\hline\\\phantom{x}&3&3\end{array}
76 - 43 = 33tens743no borrowones633no borrow-3 tens and 3 ones make 33Put the tens and ones digits together to read the difference.
column-subtraction Line up digits by place value and subtract each column from right to left. When the top digit is greater than or equal to the bottom digit in every column, subtract directly with no borrowing.