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Watch: What is column subtraction?

If the numbers are too high or too difficult to subtract in your head, write them down in columns.

Separate the numbers into ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.

List the numbers in a column and always start with the ones first.

  • Estimate first and check afterwards - it's a good idea to estimate a rough answer first. And always check your actual answer.

  • Subtraction is the opposite to addition. So subtraction can always be checked by adding. Check that 182 - 37 = 145 by doing the sum: 145 + 37 = 182

  • Look out for these words in problems: take away, difference, less than, minus, decrease, fewer than, reduce. They all indicate subtraction.

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NEW! Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica - the winter update. game

It's Mathematica as you鈥檝e never seen it before, with all-new festive backgrounds and costumes. Available for a limited time only. Use your maths skills to save the day before it's too late!

NEW! Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica - the winter update
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More on Processes in mathematics

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