Facts about Subtraction

The operation to finding the difference between two numbers is called subtraction. Let us know some facts about subtraction which will help us to learn subtraction of large numbers.

We know that subtraction is taking something away from a group of things. The terms used in subtraction are Minus, Less, Difference, Decrease, Take Away, Deduct. While finding the difference, we write the greater of the two given numbers on the top and them subtract.

1. Subtraction with small numbers can be worked out horizontally.

Example: 8 – 5 = 3

              24 – 4 = 20

2. Subtraction with large numbers is worked out vertically. Numbers are written under the place value chart.

Example:             Th    H     T     O

                             8     6     7     2

                       -     5     4     3     2

                             3     2     4     0

3. Zero subtracted from a number does not change the value of the number.

Example:                               H     T     O

                                              2     5     8

                                      +                   0

                                              2     5     8

4. 1 subtracted from a number gives the predecessor of the number as the difference.

Example: 

5. The number from which the other number is to be subtracted is called the minuend. The number subtracted is called the subtrahend and the answer is called the difference.

Example: 

6. If the subtrahend is missing, then the difference is subtracted from the minuend.

Minuend – difference = subtrahend.

Example:

Workings:

7. To find the missing minuend, the difference is added to the subtrahend.

Difference + subtrahend = minuend

Example:

Workings:

Note: Here in workings we did difference + subtrahend = minuend

Questions and Answers on Facts about Subtraction:

I. Solve the following:

(i) 63 – 20 =

(ii) 89 – 53 =

(iii) 50 – 29 =

(iv) 35 – 0 =

(v) 95 – 48 =

(vi) 22 – 8 =

(vii) 53 – 46 =

(viii) 72 – 36 =

(ix) 63 – 20 =

(x) 29 – 29 =

(xi) 72 – 25 =

(xii) 79 – 29 =

(xiii) 52 – 33 =

(xiv) 93 – 49 =

(xv) 76 – 56 =

Answer:

I. (i) 43

(ii) 36

(iii) 21

(iv) 35

(v) 47

(vi) 14

(vii) 7

(viii) 36

(ix) 43

(x) 0

(xi) 47

(xii) 50

(xiii) 19

(xiv) 44

(xv) 20

II. Solve the puzzle. Subtract to fill the empty boxes:

Answer:

II.

9, 6, 4 and 5, 4, 3

3rd Grade Math Lessons

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