Let's take a look at the following subtraction problem:

253 - 27

In this case, we're subtracting a two-digit number from a three-digit number. To do this, we use the standard algorithm.

The first step is to write the numbers in the usual way, where ones are aligned over ones, tens over tens, and hundreds over hundreds:

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Next, we proceed by subtracting the numbers in each place value (from right to left):

Step 1. We cannot compute 3 - 7. So, we have to "borrow" 1 from the tens place. This leaves us with 5-1=\color{red}4 tens and \color{red}13 ones:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{\color{red}4} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{\color{red}13} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{5} \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 2. Then, we subtract ones from ones and tens from tens:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{4} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{13} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{5} \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 6 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 3. Notice that 27 has no hundreds digit. Therefore, we place a \color{red}0 in its hundreds place:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{4} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{13} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{5} \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \color{red}0 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 6 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Then, subtracting the hundreds, we get the following:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{4} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{13} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{5} \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 0 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 6 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Therefore, we conclude that

253 - 27 = 226.

FLAG

What is 498 - 75?

EXPLANATION

First, we line up our numbers (ones over ones, tens over tens, and hundreds over hundreds):

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 9 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Next, we proceed by subtracting the numbers in each place value (from right to left):

Step 1. Subtracting the ones, {\color{blue}8} - {\color{blue}5} = {\color{blue}3}{:}

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 9 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}8} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}5} \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}3} \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 2. Subtracting the tens, {\color{blue}9} - {\color{blue}7} = {\color{blue}2}{:}

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}9} \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}7} \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & & \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}2} \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 3. Subtracting the hundreds, {\color{blue}4} - {\color{blue}0} = {\color{blue}4}{:}

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}4} \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 9 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}0} \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 7 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}4} \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Therefore, 498 - 75 = 423.

FLAG

$389 - 54=$

a
$339$
b
$385$
c
$325$
d
$354$
e
$335$

Last Saturday, Jill bought $187$ grams of chocolate chips. If she used $62$ grams of those on Sunday to make cookies, how many grams of chocolate chips did she have left?

a
$125$ grams
b
$133$ grams
c
$135$ grams
d
$115$ grams
e
$124$ grams

What is 335 - 61?

EXPLANATION

First, we line up our numbers:

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 6 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 1 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline &\!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Next, we proceed by subtracting the numbers in each place value (from right to left):

Step 1. Subtracting the ones, {\color{blue}5} - {\color{blue}1} = {\color{blue}4}{:}

\begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}5} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 6 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}1} \!\!\!\! \\ \hline &\!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! {\color{blue}4} \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 2. We cannot compute 3 - 6. So, we borrow 1 from the hundreds place:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\! \small{\color{red}2} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{\color{red}13} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!& \!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 6 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 1 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 3. Then, we subtract tens and hundreds:

\begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\! \small{2} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{13} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!& \!\!\! 5 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 0 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 6 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 1 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 7 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Therefore, 335 - 61 = 274.

FLAG

$554 - 28=$

a
$534$
b
$524$
c
$526$
d
$536$
e
$516$

$337 - 75=$

a
$272$
b
$238$
c
$262$
d
$275$
e
$378$

What is 312 - 88?

EXPLANATION

First, we line up our numbers:

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 1 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!& \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Next, we proceed by subtracting the numbers in each place value (from right to left):

Step 1. We cannot compute 2 - 8. So, we borrow 1 from the tens place. Then, subtracting the ones, {\color{blue}12} - {\color{blue}8} = {\color{blue}4}{:}

\begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{0} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{\color{blue}12} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\! 3 \!\!\! & \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{1} \!\!\!& \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{2} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 8 \!\!\!& \!\!\! {\color{blue}8} \!\!\!\! \\ \hline &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!& \!\!\! {\color{blue}4} \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 2. We cannot compute 0 - 8. So, we borrow 1 from the hundreds place. Then, we subtract tens and hundreds:

\begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \small{2} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{10} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \small{12} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\!\!\! \cancel{3} \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\!\! \cancel{1} \!\!\!& \!\!\!\! \cancel{2} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 0 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 8 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 2 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Therefore, 312 - 88 = 224.

FLAG

$541 - 43=$

a
$502$
b
$498$
c
$500$
d
$492$
e
$484$

Jack cuts a piece of rope $342\,\textrm{cm}$-long into two smaller pieces. If one of the pieces is $87\,\textrm{cm}$ long, how long is the other piece?

a
$245\,\textrm{cm}$
b
$255\,\textrm{cm}$
c
$235\,\textrm{cm}$
d
$252\,\textrm{cm}$
e
$225\,\textrm{cm}$

What is 208 - 49?

EXPLANATION

First, we line up our numbers:

\begin{array}{cccccccc} & \!\!\!\! 2 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 0 \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 4 \!\!\!\!& \!\!\!\! 9 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & & & & \end{array}

Next, we proceed by subtracting the numbers in each place value (from right to left):

Step 1. We cannot compute 8 - 9, and there are 0 tens to borrow from. So, we borrow 1 from the hundreds place first:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\! \small{\color{red}1} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{\color{red}10} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\!\! \cancel{2} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \cancel{0} \!\!\!& \!\!\! 8 \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 4 \!\!\!& \!\!\! 9 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Then, we borrow 1 from the tens place:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{\color{red}9} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{\color{red}18} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\! \small{1} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \cancel{\small{10}} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \cancel{\small{8}} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\!\! \cancel{2} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \cancel{0} \!\!\!& \!\!\! \cancel{8} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! 4 \!\!\!& \!\! 9 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Step 2. Then we subtract ones, tens, and hundreds:

\require{cancel} \begin{array}{cccccccc} &\!\!\!\! \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{9} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \small{18} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\! \small{1} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \cancel{\small{10}} \!\!\! & \!\!\! \cancel{\small{8}} \!\!\!\! \\ &\!\!\!\!\! \cancel{2} \!\!\! & \!\!\!\! \cancel{0} \!\!\!& \!\!\! \cancel{8} \!\!\!\! \\ \!\!\!\!-\!\!\!\! & \!\!\!\! 0 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 4 \!\!\!& \!\! 9 \!\!\!\! \\ \hline & \!\!\!\! 1 \!\!\! & \!\!\! 5 \!\!\! & \!\! 9 \!\!\!\! \end{array}

Therefore, 208 - 49 = 159.

FLAG

$205 - 19=$

a
$219$
b
$186$
c
$224$
d
$174$
e
$119$

There are $207$ bags of feed in a warehouse. If the owner is going to use $78$ of those bags to feed his pigs today, how many bags of feed will be left in the warehouse?

a
$129$ bags
b
$149$ bags
c
$139$ bags
d
$122$ bags
e
$132$ bags
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