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Subtraction of multi-digit numbers

Subtraction of multi-digit numbers with a borrow

This math skill teaches how to subtract multi-digit numbers using borrowing. When subtracting from a smaller digit, a ten is borrowed from the next higher place value, making the current digit sufficiently large to proceed with the subtraction.

Learn subtraction of multi-digit numbers

Teaching Transcript

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Let's subtract 37 from 65 to find the difference

With multiple digits we are best to arrange the numbers in columns with the ones digits lining up.

Now we can start subtracting with the ones digits. But we have a small challenge because we're trying to subtract 7 from 5.

We can do a little trick called a borrow, and take a ten from the 60. The 60 becomes 50 and our 5 becomes 15

Now we can subtract 7 from 15, and we have 8 in the ones digit.

Moving up to the tens column, we are now subtracting 3 from 5 because we borrowed the 10 in the previous step, so we have 2 in the tens column

So 65 minus 37 is equal to 28. We can continue this pattern of borrowing and subtracting for any size of number.

Skill Practice

Subtraction of multi-digit numbers with a borrow

Test your understanding of subtraction of multi-digit numbers by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.