Multi-Digit Subtraction
Once you have mastered borrowing, multi-digit subtraction applies the same technique column by column regardless of how many digits are involved.
Three-Digit Example
743 − 285
Ones: 3−5 → borrow; 13−5=8. Tens: 3(after borrow)−8 → borrow; 13−8=5. Hundreds: 6−2=4. Answer: 458. Check: 458+285=743 ✓
Four-Digit Example
7,200 − 3,458
Ones: 0−8 borrow chain: 7200 → 7199 (inner). 10−8=2. Tens: 9−5=4. Hundreds: 1−4 → borrow; 11−4=7. Thousands: 6−3=3. Answer: 3,742
Five-Digit Example
53,401 − 28,765
Work column by column right to left with borrowing as needed. Answer: 24,636. Check: 24,636+28,765=53,401 ✓
Key Tips
- Work right to left — never skip a column.
- When borrowing across zeros, each zero becomes 9 after lending one to its right.
- Estimate first to check plausibility.
- Verify: difference + subtrahend = minuend.
Key Takeaways
- The same borrowing technique applies for any number of digits.
- Borrowing chains through zeros methodically.
- Always verify your answer by adding.
Practice Questions
- Calculate 652 − 387.
- Calculate 4,000 − 1,234.
- Calculate 25,806 − 13,948.
- A warehouse has 10,000 items; 4,378 are dispatched. How many remain?
- Estimate then calculate: 78,241 − 34,567.