Solve Decimal Subtraction: 16.1 - 4.7

Q: Why do I need to borrow when subtracting decimals?

You borrow when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit. In $ 16.1 - 4.7 $, since 1

Q: How does borrowing work with decimals?

When you borrow 1 from the ones place, it becomes 10 in the tenths place. So 16.1 becomes 15.11, making the subtraction possible: 11 - 7 = 4 in the tenths place.

Q: What if I forget to align the decimal points?

Always line up the decimal points first! If you don't align them properly, you'll subtract the wrong place values and get an incorrect answer.

Q: How can I check if my decimal subtraction is correct?

Use addition to check: Add your answer to the number you subtracted. $ 11.4 + 4.7 = 16.1 $ ✓ If you get the original number, your answer is right!

Q: Why is the answer 11.4 and not 12.4?

Without proper borrowing, students often get 12.4. But when you borrow correctly, 16 becomes 15 and 0.1 becomes 1.1, so $ 15 - 4 = 11 $ and $ 1.1 - 0.7 = 0.4 $.

Decimal Subtraction with Borrowing

$16.1-4.7=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 We'll use long subtraction for calculation

00:08 Place the decimal point in the appropriate position

00:11 The digit is smaller than the digit we need to subtract from

00:14 The digit is smaller than the digit we need to subtract from

00:18 The larger digit will decrease by 1, and our digit will increase by 10

00:22 Now we'll subtract from the larger number and place

00:36 We'll continue to subtract and place accordingly

00:55 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$16.1-4.7=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem $16.1 - 4.7$ , follow these steps:

Step 1: Align the numbers by their decimal points:
$\quad 16.1$
$-\ 4.7$
---------------------
Step 2: Subtract from right to left: Start with the decimal part:
The problem is $16.1 - 4.7$ . Since 1 (tenths place of 16.1) is less than 7 (tenths place of 4.7), we need to borrow.
Step 3: Borrow from the whole number part: Modify the 16 to become 15, and the decimal part becomes 11 ten-thousandths. After getting 15 from 16, the subtraction becomes:
$\quad 15.11$
$-\ 4.7$
---------------------
Subtract the tenths place: $11 - 7 = 4$ . Now subtract the integer part: $15 - 4 = 11$ .
Finalize the result:
$\quad 11.4$ .

Thus, the solution to $16.1 - 4.7$ is $11.4$ .

Final Answer

11.4

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Alignment: Line up decimal points vertically before subtracting
Borrowing: Convert 16.1 to 15.11 when 1 < 7 in tenths place
Verification: Add the answer back: 11.4 + 4.7 = 16.1 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Not borrowing when the top digit is smaller
Don't try to subtract 4.7 from 16.1 without borrowing when 1 < 7 = negative result in tenths place! This leads to wrong answers like 12.4. Always borrow from the ones place when needed, converting 16.1 to 15.11.

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FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to borrow when subtracting decimals?

You borrow when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit. In $16.1 - 4.7$ , since 1 < 7 in the tenths place, we need to borrow 1 from the ones place.

How does borrowing work with decimals?

When you borrow 1 from the ones place, it becomes 10 in the tenths place. So 16.1 becomes 15.11, making the subtraction possible: 11 - 7 = 4 in the tenths place.

What if I forget to align the decimal points?

Always line up the decimal points first! If you don't align them properly, you'll subtract the wrong place values and get an incorrect answer.

How can I check if my decimal subtraction is correct?

Use addition to check: Add your answer to the number you subtracted. $11.4 + 4.7 = 16.1$ ✓ If you get the original number, your answer is right!

Why is the answer 11.4 and not 12.4?

Without proper borrowing, students often get 12.4. But when you borrow correctly, 16 becomes 15 and 0.1 becomes 1.1, so $15 - 4 = 11$ and $1.1 - 0.7 = 0.4$ .

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