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Visualize step-by-step long subtraction with column alignment, borrowing/regrouping highlighted, and detailed explanation of each subtraction step. Perfect for learning multi-digit subtraction.
Enter two numbers to see the visual subtraction
Type the larger number in the first field and the smaller number in the second field. The calculator works with any size numbers and will show an error if the first number is smaller.
The calculator shows the numbers aligned in columns. When borrowing occurs, you'll see the modified digits in red above the original number, showing how the borrowing affected each position.
Each step clearly indicates whether borrowing was needed and shows the calculation for that position. Steps requiring borrowing are highlighted in red for easy identification.
Long subtraction, also known as column subtraction or vertical subtraction, is a method for subtracting multi-digit numbers by aligning them in columns based on place value. The key concept is borrowing (or regrouping) when a digit in the top number is smaller than the corresponding digit in the bottom number.
Long subtraction is a method of subtracting multi-digit numbers by writing them in columns aligned by place value and subtracting each column from right to left. It's called 'long' because the numbers are written vertically in a long format, similar to long addition.
Borrowing (also called regrouping) occurs when the top digit in a column is smaller than the bottom digit. You 'borrow' 10 from the next column to the left, which decreases that column's top digit by 1 and adds 10 to your current digit. For example, if you need to subtract 8 from 3, you borrow to make it 13 - 8 = 5.
When you need to borrow from a zero, you must continue moving left until you find a non-zero digit. You borrow 1 from that digit, and all the zeros between become 9s. For example, in 500 - 7, you borrow from the 5, making it 4, and the zeros become 9s, so you subtract 7 from 10 (not shown but understood), and the 9s remain.
We subtract from right to left because that's the order of place values (ones, tens, hundreds). This allows us to properly handle borrowing - when we need to borrow from the next column, that column is to the left, and we'll process it in the next step.
In basic subtraction, we typically subtract a smaller number from a larger number to get a positive result. If you need to subtract a larger number from a smaller one, the result would be negative. For example, 5 - 8 = -3. This calculator requires the first number to be larger.
If all top digits are larger than or equal to their corresponding bottom digits, no borrowing is needed. You simply subtract each column from right to left without any regrouping. This makes the subtraction straightforward and quick.