Subtraction by "Regrouping"

(Also called "borrowing" or "trading")

To subtract numbers with more than one digit:

• write down the larger number first and the smaller number directly below it
  making sure to line up the columns!
  
  
• then do subtractions one column at a time like this (press play button):

Smaller Number - Bigger Number

			But what if a column has a smaller number on the top? How do you do 2 - 5 ?
	The Solution:		Make the "2" larger by "regrouping" like this (press play button):

In 32: the "3" means 3 tens, the "2" means 2 units, So you: reduce the 3 by 1 increase the 2 by 10

You can use this method whenever a column has a smaller number on top, as in this example:

Zero

But you can't regroup from zero ...

But you can make a "0" into a "10" by regrouping it first, them carry on normally, like this:

 

Now, you can practice with these Subtraction Worksheets