Addition and Subtraction Adventure!

Trade First Subtraction Method

This method is most commonly used in the United States and most parents learned to subtract in a way that is very similar to this method. This method is performed from right to left subtracting one place value at a time. Before any subtracting can be done, one needs to go through and decide if any "trading" needs to take place. To do this, one must begin in the ones place and examine each place value to determine if the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit. If it is, trading must occur. If it isn't or is equal, no trading is necessary. Next, one needs to move on to the tens place value and so on.

Use the controls below to view the three different tutorials, practice sets and answers are found on the left, and advance to the next method by using the navigational arrow on the bottom right.

1. Trade in the 1's place value column, if necessary.
2. Trade in the 10's place value column, if necessary.
3. Subtract each place value.

Example 1: Solve 642 - 379 using the trade first method Example 2: Solve 307 - 157 using the trade first method Example 3: Solve 400 - 263 using the trade first method

Trade First Practice Sets and Answers (with steps shown) Printable Practice Sets Answers Set 1 Set 1 Set 2 Set 2 Set 3 Set 3 Set 4 Set 4 Set 5 Set 5   Next Subtraction Method: Counting Up