Solve Decimal Subtraction: 19.28 - 15.39

Decimal Subtraction with Borrowing Across Places

Solve the following exercise and circle the appropriate answer:

19.28-15.39

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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 larger number from the number we have
00:06 We'll borrow from the next number
00:09 The digit will decrease by 1, and the previous digit will increase by 10
00:13 Now we'll subtract from the larger number
00:16 We'll place it and continue to subtract and place accordingly
00:19 Again we'll borrow from the next number
00:22 The digit will decrease by 1, and the previous digit will increase by 10
00:25 Now we'll subtract from the larger number
00:28 We'll place it and continue to subtract and place accordingly
00:33 Let's reduce the 4
00:37 And this is the solution to the question

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:

19.28-15.39

2

Step-by-step solution

Solve the following exercise in the correct order:

Subtract the hundreds after the decimal point:

89= 8-9=

Given that we cannot subtract, we will instead borrow ten from the tenths digit after the decimal point as shown below:

189=9 18-9=9

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

213=13 2-1-3=1-3

Since we cannot subtract, we will instead borrow ten from the tens digit of the whole number to obtain the following:

113=8 11-3=8

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

Let's remember that we borrowed ten from the tens digit, therefore:

915=3 9-1-5=3

11=0 1-1=0

We obtain the following result:

19.2815.3903.89 19.28\\-15.39\\03.89

Ignoring the zero before the 3 we obtain the number: 3.89

3

Final Answer

3.89

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Alignment: Line up decimal points vertically before subtracting
  • Borrowing: When 8-9 is impossible, borrow 10 from tenths: 18-9=9
  • Verification: Add your answer to the subtracted number: 3.89 + 15.39 = 19.28 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Not aligning decimal points properly
    Don't line up numbers by their last digit instead of decimal points = wrong place values! This makes you subtract wrong digits and get completely incorrect answers. Always align decimal points vertically first.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( \text{0.6+0}.5= \)

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FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to borrow when subtracting decimals?

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Just like with whole numbers, you borrow when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit. For example, you can't do 8-9, so you borrow 10 from the next place value to make it 18-9.

What does borrowing 10 from the tenths place mean?

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When you borrow from the tenths place, you're taking 1 tenth (which equals 10 hundredths) and adding it to the hundredths place. So 2 tenths becomes 1 tenth, and 8 hundredths becomes 18 hundredths.

How do I know which direction to borrow from?

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Always borrow from the place value to the left. If you need help in hundredths, borrow from tenths. If you need help in tenths, borrow from ones, and so on.

What if I forget to reduce the borrowed digit?

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This is a very common mistake! When you borrow 10, you must subtract 1 from the place you borrowed from. If you forget this step, your final answer will be wrong.

Can I check my decimal subtraction answer?

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Yes! Add your answer to the number you subtracted. For example: 3.89+15.39=19.28 3.89 + 15.39 = 19.28 . If you get the original number, you're correct!

Why does the explanation show 03.89 instead of 3.89?

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During calculation, we sometimes write leading zeros to keep track of place values. The final answer is 3.89 because we don't need the leading zero in our final result.

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