Solve Vertical Subtraction: 27 Minus 3 Step-by-Step

Q: Why do I start with the ones place instead of the tens place?

Always work from right to left (ones first, then tens) because you might need to borrow from the tens place. Starting left could mess up your borrowing!

Q: What does the 0 mean in the tens place of 3?

The number 3 is really $03$ - it has zero tens and three ones. When we write it as just 3, the tens place is understood to be 0.

Q: How do I know if I need to borrow?

You need to borrow when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit in any column. In this problem, 7 > 3, so no borrowing needed!

Q: Can I check my answer a different way?

Yes! Use addition: $24 + 3 = 27$. If you get the original number back, your subtraction is correct!

Q: What if I get a different answer like 14 or 22?

Double-check your column alignment and subtraction. 14 comes from 27 - 13 and 22 comes from 25 - 3 - both show digit mix-ups!

Vertical Subtraction with Two-Digit Numbers

$\begin{aligned} &27 \\ -& \\ &~~3 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned}$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 Each time calculate subtraction of 2 digits, and then substitute

00:06 Let's start by subtracting ones from ones

00:09 Substitute in ones place

00:12 Put 0 in the missing digits

00:15 Subtract tens from tens

00:18 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

$\begin{aligned} &27 \\ -& \\ &~~3 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned}$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll perform vertical subtraction:

Step 1: Write down the numbers vertically with the larger number (the minuend) on top:

$\begin{aligned} &27 \\ -& \\ &~~3 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} &\\ \end{aligned}$

Step 2: Subtract the digits in the ones place: $7$ (from $27$ ) minus $3$ (from $3$ ) equals $4$ .
Step 3: Subtract the digits in the tens place: $2$ (from $27$ ) minus $0$ (no tens in $3$ ) equals $2$ .

Therefore, the difference is $24$ .

The solution to the problem is $24$ , which corresponds to choice 2.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Alignment: Line up digits by place value columns correctly
Technique: Subtract ones first: $7 - 3 = 4$ , then tens: $2 - 0 = 2$
Check: Add answer to subtrahend: $24 + 3 = 27$ matches original ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting in wrong direction or misaligning digits
Don't subtract the larger digit from the smaller one like 3 - 7 = wrong answer! This gives negative results or forces borrowing when unnecessary. Always subtract the bottom digit from the top digit in each column.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$\begin{aligned} &105 \\ -& \\ &~~~~3 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned}$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I start with the ones place instead of the tens place?

Always work from right to left (ones first, then tens) because you might need to borrow from the tens place. Starting left could mess up your borrowing!

What does the 0 mean in the tens place of 3?

The number 3 is really $03$ - it has zero tens and three ones. When we write it as just 3, the tens place is understood to be 0.

How do I know if I need to borrow?

You need to borrow when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit in any column. In this problem, 7 > 3, so no borrowing needed!

Can I check my answer a different way?

Yes! Use addition: $24 + 3 = 27$ . If you get the original number back, your subtraction is correct!

What if I get a different answer like 14 or 22?

Double-check your column alignment and subtraction. 14 comes from 27 - 13 and 22 comes from 25 - 3 - both show digit mix-ups!

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