Solve Decimal Subtraction: Finding 47.5 - 3.5

Q: Why do I need to line up the decimal points?

Lining up decimal points ensures you're subtracting like place values: tenths from tenths, units from units, etc. Without proper alignment, you'll get the wrong answer!

Q: What if the numbers have different decimal places?

Add zeros to make them the same length! For example, $ 47.5 - 3.25 $ becomes $ 47.50 - 3.25 $. This makes subtraction much easier.

Q: Do I always get a whole number answer?

Not always! In this problem we got 44, but sometimes you'll get decimal answers like 43.7. The key is proper alignment and careful subtraction.

Q: How can I check if my answer is right?

Use addition to check subtraction! Add your answer to the number you subtracted: $ 44 + 3.5 = 47.5 $. If you get the original number, you're correct!

Decimal Subtraction with Aligned Place Values

$47.5-3.5=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 We will use vertical subtraction for calculation

00:07 Let's make sure to write properly, point above point

00:14 First subtract the smallest digits

00:17 Calculate and substitute

00:24 Continue to subtract, calculate and substitute accordingly

00:40 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

$47.5-3.5=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem of finding $47.5 - 3.5$ , we will follow these steps:

Step 1: Write the numbers vertically, aligning them by the decimal point.
Step 2: Subtract each digit starting from the right (tenths place) and moving left, borrowing where necessary.

Let's perform these steps:

Step 1: Write the numbers aligned by the decimal point:
$47.5$
- $3.5$
————

Step 2: Subtract the digits starting from the tenths place:
- Tenths place: $5 - 5 = 0$
- Units place: $7 - 3 = 4$
- Tens place: $4 - 0 = 4$
This results in $44.0$ . Since decimal points don't alter when .0 is at the end, $44.0$ is equal to $44$ .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $44$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Alignment Rule: Line up decimal points vertically before subtracting digits
Technique: Subtract column by column: 5-5=0, 7-3=4, 4-0=4
Check: Add your answer to subtrahend: 44+3.5=47.5 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Not aligning decimal points properly
Don't line up the rightmost digits like whole numbers = wrong place values! This makes you subtract tenths from units or units from tens. Always align the decimal points vertically first, then subtract each column.

Practice Quiz

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FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to line up the decimal points?

Lining up decimal points ensures you're subtracting like place values: tenths from tenths, units from units, etc. Without proper alignment, you'll get the wrong answer!

What if the numbers have different decimal places?

Add zeros to make them the same length! For example, $47.5 - 3.25$ becomes $47.50 - 3.25$ . This makes subtraction much easier.

Do I always get a whole number answer?

Not always! In this problem we got 44, but sometimes you'll get decimal answers like 43.7. The key is proper alignment and careful subtraction.

How can I check if my answer is right?

Use addition to check subtraction! Add your answer to the number you subtracted: $44 + 3.5 = 47.5$ . If you get the original number, you're correct!

What if I need to borrow in decimal subtraction?

Borrowing works the same way as with whole numbers! Borrow 1 from the next column to the left, which becomes 10 in the current column. Just keep your decimal point in place.

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