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Subtracting Whole Numbers

Whole Numbers are the numbers that contain all positive numbers and 0. All mathematical operators addition, subtraction, multiplication, exponents and Square-root can be processed on it. Every Whole Number has a successor and every whole number has a predecessor, which means that one can be added to every whole number and one can be subtracted from every whole number except 0.

If we subtract 1 from 0, we get -1 as the result, which is not a whole number but a negative Integer. Subtracting whole numbers is as simple as doing backward counting. Suppose we need to subtract 4 from 23, we simply count backward 4 steps and get 22, 21, 20, 19. It gives us 19 as the result. Now this can also be done by moving towards left direction certain number of steps on the number line.  If we are on 23 and we move 4 steps towards left in the number line, we get 19. So 19 is the answer.

Also we must remember when 0 is subtracted from any whole number, the result remains unchanged. While doing whole number subtraction  for larger number, we need to put the larger number up and the smaller number under it. Subtraction of whole numbers can be explained by an example:

Subtraction of Whole Numbers


 

Topics Covered in Subtracting Whole Numbers

Definition of Subtraction

The basic definition of subtraction covers following statements:

  1. Reducing one quantity away from other.
  2. The act and method of finding the difference amid two figures and quantities. It is indicated by negative sign(-).
  3. A way of calculation in which the difference of two numbers or quantities is determined.
  4. A process of calculating t...Read More

Definition of Difference

Difference in math can be studied through different definitions or statements:

  1. A related process in which a quantity from another quantity is to be taken away is called a difference.
  2. Difference is a process to compare the two objects which are in same units.
  3. A method to reduce some quantity from the given total collection is called differe...Read More

Definition of Subtrahend

According to the definition of subtrahend, the quantity or number to be subtracted from another quantity or number(Minuend) is known as subtrahend. The other definitions for subtrahend are :

  1. The number to be subtracted is subtrahend.
  2. The number that is subtracted from the minuend is subtrahend.

Minuend - Subtrahend = Difference


Exam...Read More

Definition of Minuend

According to the definition of minuend, the quantity or number from which another quantity or number(Subtrahend) is to be subtracted is known as minuend. The other definitions for minuend are:

  1. The numbers to be reduced or diminished is minuend.
  2. The Numbers that will subtract the subtrahend is minuend.

Minuend - Subtrahend = Difference


...Read More

Subtraction Basics

Subtraction is taught to children when they are of age group 4 - 5. After learning counting we focus on addition and subtraction which are among the four basic operations of the math. Subtraction basically means removing group of objects/things from a collection. It is the difference between the two numbers.

Example:
          There are 5 mang...Read More

Operations of Subtractions

Mathematics is not only the collection of Numbers of different types(i.e, natural numbers, whole numbers, fractions, integers, rational and irrational numbers and real numbers) but also includes the combination of mathematical operators(i.e, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) which actually increase relevancy of existence of the numbers.
...Read More

Properties of Subtraction

Subtraction means to subtract or separate a portion from the given quantity. A '-' sign is used to denote subtraction. Here are some of the properties of subtraction:

1. Closure Property

          According to this property, when two integers are subtracted then the difference will also be a integer.

e.g, 3 - 2 = 1


2. Commutative Proper...Read More

Column Subtraction

Subtraction is used to subtract or separate a portion from the given quantity. The '-' sign is used  to represent the operations of subtraction. Subtraction can be done by backward counting. If we need to subtract 6 - 2, then simply we count backward 2 from 6 i.e, 5,4. Then the required result 6 - 2 is 4.

While subtracting bigger digits the backward counting m...Read More

Further Read

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