Subtracting 3-Digit Numbers

Here we will learn subtracting 3-digit numbers. The subtractions are solved step-by-step in three different ways.

Worked-out examples on subtracting 3-digit numbers:

1. Subtract 263 from 486 (by arranging the numbers in expanded form in words)

Solution:

486 – 263 by arranging the numbers in expanded form in words

             486  =    4 hundreds + 8 tens + 6 ones                          

       -    263  = -  2 hundreds + 6 tens + 3 ones

                   =     2 hundreds + 2 tens + 3 ones

                   =     223

Steps to understand better:

(i) Subtracting one’s column = 6 ones - 3 ones = 3 ones

(ii) Subtracting tens column = 8 tens - 6 tens = 2 tens

(iii) Subtracting hundreds column = 4 hundreds - 2 hundreds = 2 hundreds

(iv) 2 hundreds + 2 tens + 3 ones = 223

2. Subtract 315 from 637 (by arranging the numbers in expanded form in figures)

Solution:

637 – 315 by arranging the numbers in expanded form in figures

             637  =    600 + 30 + 7                             

       -    315  = -  300 + 10 + 5

                   =     300 + 20 + 2

                   =     322

Steps to understand better:

(i) Subtracting one’s column = 7 - 5 = 2

(ii) Subtracting tens column = 30 - 10 = 20

(iii) Subtracting hundreds column = 600 - 300 = 300

(iv) 300 + 20 + 2 = 322

3. Subtract 434 from 789 (by placing the numbers in column form).

Solution:

789 – 434 by placing the numbers in column form

          H          T           O                         9 ones – 4 ones = 5 ones

          7          8            9                         8 tens – 3 tens = 5 tens

    -     4          3           4                         7 hundreds – 4 hundreds = 3 hundreds

          3           5          5     

Therefore, difference = 355

4. Subtract 405 from 697 by short method.

Solution:

697 – 405 by short method

          H          T           O                         7 O – 5 O = 2 O

          6          9            7                         9 T – 0 T = 9 T

    -     4          0           5                         6 H – 4 H = 2 H

          2          9           2     

Therefore, difference = 292

2nd Grade Math Practice

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