Solve Vertical Subtraction: 70 minus 14.4

Q: Why do I need to write 70 as 70.0?

Writing 70 as 70.0 helps you see that there's a zero in the tenths place. This makes it easier to align decimal points and shows exactly where you need to borrow from when subtracting.

Q: What if I forget to align the decimal points?

You'll get the wrong answer! Always line up decimal points first. Think of it like stacking coins - pennies under pennies, dimes under dimes. This keeps place values organized.

Q: How can I check if my subtraction is correct?

Use addition to check subtraction! Add your answer to the number you subtracted: $ 55.6 + 14.4 $. If you get the original number (70), you're right!

Decimal Subtraction with Borrowing Required

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:03 Let's solve the problem together!

00:06 First, place zero in the missing spots and set the decimal point.

00:11 Now, we begin subtracting right to left.

00:14 If a digit is too small, borrow from the next one.

00:19 Decrease the next digit by one and add ten to our current digit.

00:24 Let's apply this method once again.

00:27 Decrease the next digit by one, and add ten to our working digit.

00:36 Now, subtract from the larger number.

00:40 Do the calculations and make changes as needed.

00:46 Keep subtracting, calculating, and adjusting until you're done.

01:04 Great job! That's how we solve this problem.

Step-by-step written solution

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Understand the problem

Step-by-step solution

To solve the subtraction $70 - 14.4$ , we need to perform the following steps:

Step 1: Convert $70$ to a decimal number for easier alignment, writing it as $70.0$ .
Step 2: Write the two numbers vertically, aligning to the right and with the decimal points:

$\begin{aligned} 70.0 \\ - \ 14.4 \\ \hline \end{aligned}$

Step 3: Perform the subtraction starting from the rightmost digit.
Step 4: Subtract tenths: $0$ (borrow if necessary) - $4$ becomes $10 - 4 = 6$ , since we needed to borrow 1 from $7$ , making it $6$ .
Step 5: Subtract whole numbers: $6 - 1 = 5$ and $7 - 1 = 5$ (remember we borrowed to balance the tenths).

Therefore, after the subtraction, we find that the solution is $55.6$ .

Final Answer

55.6

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Alignment: Line up decimal points vertically for accurate subtraction
Borrowing: When subtracting 4 from 0, borrow from 70 to get 10 - 4 = 6
Check: Add the result back: 55.6 + 14.4 = 70.0 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Not borrowing correctly when subtracting decimals
Don't try to subtract 4 from 0 directly = impossible result! This happens when you forget that 70 = 70.0, so you need to borrow from the ones place. Always convert whole numbers to decimal form and borrow across decimal places when needed.

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FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to write 70 as 70.0?

Writing 70 as 70.0 helps you see that there's a zero in the tenths place. This makes it easier to align decimal points and shows exactly where you need to borrow from when subtracting.

How do I borrow when there's a decimal point involved?

Borrowing works the same way! When you can't subtract 4 from 0 in the tenths place, borrow 1 from the ones place. The 0 becomes 10, and you reduce the ones digit by 1.

What if I forget to align the decimal points?

You'll get the wrong answer! Always line up decimal points first. Think of it like stacking coins - pennies under pennies, dimes under dimes. This keeps place values organized.

How can I check if my subtraction is correct?

Use addition to check subtraction! Add your answer to the number you subtracted: $55.6 + 14.4$ . If you get the original number (70), you're right!

Why is my answer 55.6 instead of 55.06?

Because there are no hundredths to subtract! When you subtract $70.0 - 14.4$ , you're only dealing with tenths place. The answer 55.6 means 55 and 6 tenths.

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