Solve the Subtraction Equation: 460 - 460 = ?

Q: Why is the answer always 0 when I subtract a number from itself?

This is called the subtraction identity property! When you take away the same amount you started with, you're left with nothing. Think of it like having 460 apples and giving away all 460 - you have zero apples left.

Q: Do I need to do the subtraction column by column?

No! When both numbers are exactly the same, you can immediately write 0 as your answer. The identity property saves you time and effort on problems like this.

Q: Does this work with any number, even really big ones?

Yes! Whether it's $ 5 - 5 $, $ 1000 - 1000 $, or even $ 999,999 - 999,999 $, the answer is always zero when you subtract identical numbers.

Q: What if the numbers look different but are actually the same?

Great observation! If you see something like $ 460 - (400 + 60) $, first simplify to see if they're really the same number. Then apply the identity property.

Q: How can I be sure I didn't make a mistake?

Ask yourself: "Are both numbers exactly the same?" If yes, the answer is 0. You can also think of it as: What's left when you take everything away? Nothing!

Subtraction Properties with Identity Elements

$460-460=$

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Step-by-step video solution

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00:00 Solve

00:03 Any number minus itself always equals 0

00:09 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

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Understand the problem

$460-460=$

Step-by-step solution

The problem requires solving the subtraction of 460 from itself.

We use the mathematical property that states for any number $x$ , subtracting it from itself results in zero:

Identify the number: $460$
Subtract it from itself: $460 - 460$
Apply the property: $460 - 460 = 0$

Therefore, the solution to this problem is $0$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Identity Property: Any number subtracted from itself always equals zero
Technique: Apply $x - x = 0$ when both numbers are identical
Check: Verify that $460 - 460 = 0$ by confirming identical numbers ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Trying to perform column subtraction instead of recognizing the pattern
Don't set up 460 - 460 in columns and subtract digit by digit = unnecessary work! When numbers are identical, the answer is always zero by the identity property. Always recognize when you're subtracting a number from itself first.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$1\times1000=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is the answer always 0 when I subtract a number from itself?

This is called the subtraction identity property! When you take away the same amount you started with, you're left with nothing. Think of it like having 460 apples and giving away all 460 - you have zero apples left.

Do I need to do the subtraction column by column?

No! When both numbers are exactly the same, you can immediately write 0 as your answer. The identity property saves you time and effort on problems like this.

Does this work with any number, even really big ones?

Yes! Whether it's $5 - 5$ , $1000 - 1000$ , or even $999,999 - 999,999$ , the answer is always zero when you subtract identical numbers.

What if the numbers look different but are actually the same?

Great observation! If you see something like $460 - (400 + 60)$ , first simplify to see if they're really the same number. Then apply the identity property.

How can I be sure I didn't make a mistake?

Ask yourself: "Are both numbers exactly the same?" If yes, the answer is 0. You can also think of it as: What's left when you take everything away? Nothing!

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