Subtracting From Two-Digit Numbers

Two-digit numbers? It will be as easy as pie now that you can do subtraction through twenty (2) and you know about borrowing. Most of our examples will have you subtracting single-digit numbers from double-digit numbers so the subtraction will be a bit easier. You will still need to set up the problems in the up and down format so that the columns match up. We'll still work with side-by-side on this page.

Column by Column

Remember that you always work from right to left. The ones column is on the far right side and then tens, hundreds, and thousands. Since these are only two-digit numbers, you only have to worry about ones and tens.

Examples (with no borrowing):
12 - 1 = 11
28 - 6 = 22
34 - 2 = 32
68 - 5 = 63

Do you see how since there is no borrowing you just bring the tens column down? Subtracting these numbers are as easy as single digit subtraction. "5 - 3 = 2" will help you in any problem from "85 - 3" to "1,584,687,265 - 3." Moving from right to left makes it very easy.

Now a Little Borrowing

Not all of the subtraction problems will be simple like those. You will need to borrow about half of the time. It's not harder, just different. As a reminder, the concept of borrowing has you "borrowing" a "1" from the column to the left. Since we're only working with two-digit numbers, you will borrow from the tens column.

Examples:
54 - 5 = 49
62 - 7 = 55
21 - 4 = 17

Remember that you can check your work by flipping the symbols and using addition.
54 - 5 = 49 (check to make sure that 49 + 5 = 54)
62 - 7 = 55 (check to make sure that 55 + 7 = 62)
21 - 4 = 17 (check to make sure that 17 + 4 = 22)

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Two-Digit Subtraction Quiz (With Borrowing)
- Play Activity

Two-Digit Subtraction Quiz (No Borrowing)
- Play Activity

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