Calculate & Verify Subtraction Problems: Step-by-Step Guide
Hey guys! Today, we're diving into the world of subtraction and making sure we not only get the right answers but also know how to double-check our work. We're going to tackle a couple of subtraction problems and learn how to verify our solutions. So, grab your pencils and let's get started!
Part A: 3246 - 1239
Let's start with the first problem: 3246 - 1239. This might seem daunting at first, but breaking it down step-by-step makes it super manageable. We'll walk through each step, and you'll see it's a breeze!
Step 1: Setting Up the Problem
First, we need to write the numbers vertically, making sure to align the digits in the correct place values (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands). This is crucial because it keeps everything organized and prevents us from making silly mistakes.
  3246
- 1239
------
Step 2: Subtracting the Ones Place
We start with the ones place: 6 - 9. Uh oh! We can't subtract 9 from 6 directly because 6 is smaller. So, what do we do? We need to borrow from the tens place. This is like asking your neighbor for some sugar when you're baking a cake – we're just borrowing a ten to make our ones column bigger.
The 4 in the tens place becomes a 3, and we add 10 to the 6 in the ones place, making it 16. Now we have 16 - 9, which equals 7. So, we write 7 in the ones place of our answer.
  32³4¹6
- 1239
------
      7
Step 3: Subtracting the Tens Place
Next up is the tens place: 3 - 3. This one is easy! 3 - 3 = 0. We write 0 in the tens place of our answer.
  32³4¹6
- 1239
------
     07
Step 4: Subtracting the Hundreds Place
Now we move to the hundreds place: 2 - 2. Again, this is straightforward: 2 - 2 = 0. We write 0 in the hundreds place of our answer.
  32³4¹6
- 1239
------
    007
Step 5: Subtracting the Thousands Place
Finally, we subtract the thousands place: 3 - 1. This gives us 2. We write 2 in the thousands place of our answer.
  32³4¹6
- 1239
------
  2007
So, 3246 - 1239 = 2007. But wait, we're not done yet! We need to verify our answer to make sure we did everything correctly.
Step 6: Verifying the Answer
To verify our subtraction, we use the opposite operation: addition. We add our answer (2007) to the number we subtracted (1239). If we did our subtraction correctly, the result should be the original number (3246).
  2007
+ 1239
------
Let's add them up:
- Ones place: 7 + 9 = 16. Write down 6 and carry over 1 to the tens place.
 - Tens place: 0 + 3 + 1 (carried over) = 4. Write down 4.
 - Hundreds place: 0 + 2 = 2. Write down 2.
 - Thousands place: 2 + 1 = 3. Write down 3.
 
  2007
+ 1239
------
  3246
Woohoo! We got 3246, which is the original number. That means our subtraction is correct. High five!
Part B: 6329 - 4652
Alright, let's move on to the second problem: 6329 - 4652. We'll follow the same steps as before, so you'll get even more practice.
Step 1: Setting Up the Problem
Again, we write the numbers vertically, aligning the digits by place value:
  6329
- 4652
------
Step 2: Subtracting the Ones Place
We start with the ones place: 9 - 2. This is simple: 9 - 2 = 7. We write 7 in the ones place of our answer.
  6329
- 4652
------
      7
Step 3: Subtracting the Tens Place
Now, the tens place: 2 - 5. Uh oh! We can't subtract 5 from 2, so we need to borrow from the hundreds place. The 3 in the hundreds place becomes a 2, and we add 10 to the 2 in the tens place, making it 12. Now we have 12 - 5, which equals 7. We write 7 in the tens place of our answer.
  6²3¹29
- 4652
------
     77
Step 4: Subtracting the Hundreds Place
Next is the hundreds place: 2 - 6. We have another borrowing situation! We can't subtract 6 from 2, so we borrow from the thousands place. The 6 in the thousands place becomes a 5, and we add 10 to the 2 in the hundreds place, making it 12. Now we have 12 - 6, which equals 6. We write 6 in the hundreds place of our answer.
  ⁵6²3¹29
- 4652
------
    677
Step 5: Subtracting the Thousands Place
Finally, the thousands place: 5 - 4. This gives us 1. We write 1 in the thousands place of our answer.
  ⁵6²3¹29
- 4652
------
  1677
So, 6329 - 4652 = 1677. Time to verify our answer!
Step 6: Verifying the Answer
We add our answer (1677) to the number we subtracted (4652). The result should be the original number (6329).
  1677
+ 4652
------
Let's add them up:
- Ones place: 7 + 2 = 9. Write down 9.
 - Tens place: 7 + 5 = 12. Write down 2 and carry over 1 to the hundreds place.
 - Hundreds place: 6 + 6 + 1 (carried over) = 13. Write down 3 and carry over 1 to the thousands place.
 - Thousands place: 1 + 4 + 1 (carried over) = 6. Write down 6.
 
  1677
+ 4652
------
  6329
Awesome! We got 6329, which matches our original number. Our subtraction is correct again. You're becoming subtraction superstars!
Key Takeaways
- Setting up the problem correctly by aligning place values is crucial.
 - Borrowing is our friend when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit.
 - Verifying with addition ensures we've got the right answer.
 
Practice Makes Perfect
Subtraction might seem tricky at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature. The more problems you solve, the more confident you'll become. Remember to take your time, double-check your work, and always verify your answers. You've got this!
So, there you have it! We've tackled two subtraction problems and learned how to verify our results. Keep practicing, and you'll be subtraction pros in no time. Until next time, happy calculating!