Find the Predecessor: Determining the Number Before 31,440

Q: What's the difference between predecessor and successor?

The predecessor comes before a number (subtract 1), while the successor comes after a number (add 1). For 31,440: predecessor is 31,439 and successor is 31,441.

Q: Does this work for all numbers, even negative ones?

Yes! The predecessor rule works for all integers. For example, the predecessor of -5 is -6 (since -5 - 1 = -6).

Number Predecessors with Large Integers

What number comes before 31,440?

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Step-by-step written solution

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Understand the problem

What number comes before 31,440?

Step-by-step solution

To find the number that comes before $31,440$ , we need to calculate the predecessor using subtraction. Let's go through the steps:

Step 1: Identify the given information. We have the number $31,440$ .
Step 2: Determine the predecessor by subtracting 1 from the given number. Use the formula: $\text{Predecessor} = n - 1$ .
Step 3: Perform the calculation: $31,440 - 1 = 31,439$ .

Thus, $31,439$ is the number that comes before $31,440$ .

Therefore, the correct answer is $31,439$ .

Final Answer

$31,439$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: The predecessor is always one less than given number
Technique: Subtract 1 from 31,440 to get 31,439
Check: Count up: 31,439 + 1 = 31,440 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding 1 instead of subtracting
Don't add 1 to find what comes before = 31,441 instead of 31,439! This gives you the successor (next number) instead of the predecessor. Always subtract 1 to find the number that comes before.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

What number follows 70,099?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

What's the difference between predecessor and successor?

The predecessor comes before a number (subtract 1), while the successor comes after a number (add 1). For 31,440: predecessor is 31,439 and successor is 31,441.

Why do we subtract 1 to find the predecessor?

Numbers on a number line are arranged in order. To move backward one position, we subtract 1. This is like counting backwards: 31,440, 31,439, 31,438...

Does this work for all numbers, even negative ones?

Yes! The predecessor rule works for all integers. For example, the predecessor of -5 is -6 (since -5 - 1 = -6).

How can I check my answer is correct?

Add 1 to your answer. If you get the original number back, you're right! For this problem: $31,439 + 1 = 31,440$ ✓

What if the number ends in zero like 31,440?

It doesn't matter what digits the number ends with! The rule stays the same: subtract 1. So 31,440 - 1 = 31,439, even though we're borrowing from the tens place.

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