Solve Sequential Subtraction: 10 - 3 - 1 Step by Step

Q: Why do I subtract from left to right?

Mathematical operations follow left-to-right order when they have the same priority. Think of it like reading - you process each subtraction as you encounter it from left to right.

Q: What if I accidentally added the numbers being subtracted?

If you calculated $10 - (3 + 1) = 10 - 4 = 6$, you got lucky this time! But this method is incorrect and will fail with different numbers. Always subtract step by step.

Q: How can I check my answer without working backwards?

Try a different approach: count down from 10. Start at 10, count down 3 to get 7, then count down 1 more to get 6. This confirms your answer!

Q: Is there a faster way to do this?

With practice, you can do it mentally! Think: "10 minus 3 is 7, minus 1 more is 6." But always follow the left-to-right rule, even when working fast.

Q: What if there were more numbers to subtract?

Same rule applies! For example: $15 - 2 - 3 - 1$ becomes 15 - 2 = 13, then 13 - 3 = 10, then 10 - 1 = 9. Work through each subtraction from left to right.

Sequential Subtraction with Multiple Steps

$10 - 3 - 1 =$

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Understand the problem

$10 - 3 - 1 =$

Step-by-step solution

Start with the initial expression: $10 - 3 - 1$ .

First, subtract 3 from 10: $10 - 3 = 7$ .

Next, subtract 1 from the result: $7 - 1 = 6$ .

Therefore, the final answer is $6$ .

Final Answer

$6$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Order Rule: Subtract from left to right in sequential operations
Technique: First calculate 10 - 3 = 7, then 7 - 1 = 6
Check: Work backwards: 6 + 1 + 3 = 10 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting all numbers from the first number at once
Don't calculate 10 - 3 - 1 as 10 - (3 + 1) = 10 - 4 = 6! This accidentally gives the right answer but uses wrong logic. Always subtract one number at a time from left to right: 10 - 3 = 7, then 7 - 1 = 6.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ 8 - 2 + 6 = $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I subtract from left to right?

Mathematical operations follow left-to-right order when they have the same priority. Think of it like reading - you process each subtraction as you encounter it from left to right.

What if I accidentally added the numbers being subtracted?

If you calculated $10 - (3 + 1) = 10 - 4 = 6$ , you got lucky this time! But this method is incorrect and will fail with different numbers. Always subtract step by step.

How can I check my answer without working backwards?

Try a different approach: count down from 10. Start at 10, count down 3 to get 7, then count down 1 more to get 6. This confirms your answer!

Is there a faster way to do this?

With practice, you can do it mentally! Think: "10 minus 3 is 7, minus 1 more is 6." But always follow the left-to-right rule, even when working fast.

What if there were more numbers to subtract?

Same rule applies! For example: $15 - 2 - 3 - 1$ becomes 15 - 2 = 13, then 13 - 3 = 10, then 10 - 1 = 9. Work through each subtraction from left to right.

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