Solve Decimal Subtraction: 16.33 - 15.59 Step by Step

Decimal Subtraction with Borrowing

Solve the following exercise and circle the appropriate answer:

16.33-15.59

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve
00:03 When we need to subtract a number larger than what we have
00:06 We'll borrow from the next number
00:10 The next digit will decrease by 1, and the previous digit will increase by 10
00:14 Now we'll subtract from the larger number
00:17 Again we'll borrow from the next number
00:20 We'll use the same method and subtract
00:34 We'll reduce the 4
00:38 And this is the solution to the problem

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Solve the following exercise and circle the appropriate answer:

16.33-15.59

2

Step-by-step solution

Let's solve the exercise in order:

Let's subtract the hundreds after the decimal point

39= 3-9=

Since we cannot subtract, we'll borrow ten from the tenths after the decimal point and get:

139=4 13-9=4

Let's subtract the tenths after the decimal point, remembering that we borrowed ten, therefore:

315=25 3-1-5=2-5

Since we cannot subtract, we'll borrow ten from the tens digit of the whole number and get:

125=7 12-5=7

Finally, let's subtract the whole numbers before the decimal point accordingly.

Since we borrowed ten from the tens digit of the whole number we get:

615=0 6-1-5=0

11=0 1-1=0

And we get:

16.3315.5900.74 16.33\\-15.59\\00.74

We can ignore the 0 before the 0 and therefore we got the number: 0.74

3

Final Answer

0.74

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Alignment: Line up decimal points vertically for accurate subtraction
  • Borrowing: When 3 - 9 is impossible, borrow 10 from next column left
  • Check: Add your answer to subtrahend: 0.74 + 15.59 = 16.33 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Subtracting smaller digits from larger regardless of position
    Don't calculate 9 - 3 = 6 when you see 3 - 9 = impossible! This ignores place value and gives wrong results like 1.26 instead of 0.74. Always borrow from the left column when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( 2.6:0.1= \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to line up the decimal points?

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Aligning decimal points ensures you subtract like place values - hundredths from hundredths, tenths from tenths. Without proper alignment, you'll get completely wrong answers!

What happens when I borrow from a decimal place?

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When you borrow 1 from the tenths place, you're actually borrowing 10 hundredths. So 3 hundredths becomes 13 hundredths, and the tenths digit decreases by 1.

How do I know when I need to borrow?

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You need to borrow whenever the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit in any column. Like when you see 3 - 9 or 2 - 5 - you can't subtract a larger number from a smaller one!

What if I have zeros in my answer?

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Leading zeros can be dropped (like 00.74 becomes 0.74), but zeros within or after the decimal point are important for place value and should be kept when significant.

Can I check my subtraction answer?

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Always check by adding! Your answer plus the number you subtracted should equal the original number: 0.74+15.59=16.33 0.74 + 15.59 = 16.33

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