Subtraction finds the difference between two numbers. It is the inverse of addition.
Column subtraction: line up by place value and subtract from right to left, borrowing from the next column when needed.
$$\begin{array}{r} 524 \\\\ -\ 187 \\\\ \hline 337 \end{array}$$
Subtracting decimals: align the decimal point.
$$6.3 - 2.74 = 6.30 - 2.74 = 3.56$$
Subtracting negative numbers: subtracting a negative is the same as adding. $$5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8$$ $$-2 - (-5) = -2 + 5 = 3$$
Subtracting fractions: find a common denominator first. $$\frac{3}{4} - \frac{1}{3} = \frac{9}{12} - \frac{4}{12} = \frac{5}{12}$$
Common error: borrowing incorrectly in column subtraction, or getting the sign wrong when subtracting a negative.
Negative numbers Adding and subtracting fractions
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