Subtraction can be a bit tricky, especially when those numbers get bigger! But don’t worry, we’re here to make it super easy to understand. Think of it like sharing your favorite toys sometimes you need to borrow some from a bigger box to make sure everyone gets a fair share.
In this blog post, we’ll break down how to tackle 3-digit subtraction problems with regrouping (sometimes called “borrowing”). We’ll go through the steps together with clear examples, so you can confidently subtract any 3-digit number from another! Let’s dive in and make math fun!
Mastering 3 Digit by 3 Digit Subtraction with Regrouping
Let’s start with an example: 452 – 285. We always start in the ones column. Can we subtract 5 from 2? Nope! That’s where regrouping comes in. We need to borrow 1 ten from the tens column (the 5), leaving it with 4 tens.
That borrowed ten becomes 10 ones, which we add to our existing 2 ones, giving us 12 ones. Now we can subtract! 12 – 5 = 7. Write the 7 in the ones column of your answer. Great job so far!
Next, we move to the tens column. We now have 4 tens – 8 tens. Again, we can’t do that! So, we borrow 1 hundred from the hundreds column (the 4), leaving it with 3 hundreds. This hundred becomes 10 tens, which we add to our existing 4 tens, for a total of 14 tens.
Now subtract the tens. 14 – 8 = 6. Write the 6 in the tens column of your answer. Finally, we move to the hundreds column. We have 3 hundreds – 2 hundreds = 1 hundred. Write the 1 in the hundreds column.
Our final answer is 167! Remember, the key is to take it one column at a time, always starting with the ones. If the top number in a column is smaller than the bottom number, you’ll need to regroup. Practice makes perfect, so keep working on those problems!
We hope this breakdown of 3-digit subtraction with regrouping has been helpful. Remember to stay calm, take your time, and practice regularly. Now you are ready to tackle more complex subtraction problems and build a strong foundation in math. Go forth and conquer those numbers!