Solve Decimal Subtraction: 20.2 - 10.4 Step-by-Step

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solve

00:03 We'll use long subtraction for calculation

00:08 We'll place the decimal point in the appropriate position

00:11 The digit is smaller than the digit we need to subtract from

00:14 So we'll borrow from the next possible digit

00:18 The larger digit will decrease by 1, and our digit will increase by 10

00:24 Now we'll use the same method and borrow from the first digit

00:40 Now we'll subtract from the larger number and place it

00:50 We'll continue to subtract and place accordingly

01:06 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll perform the following steps:

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: We align the two numbers with their decimal points:
$20.2$
$-10.4$
_____

Step 2: Subtract the digits from right to left:

Tenths place: $2 - 4$ can't be done directly, so we need to look at the whole number.
Units place: We need to borrow from the $20$ , making the $0$ a $10$ and reducing the hundreds digit: this gives us $12.0 - 10.4$ .
Now, tenths place calculation $2 - 4 = -2$ , but with borrowing from next digit $(10) + (2 - 4) = 8$ .
Units place results into $20 - 10 = 10$ . Including borrows, results into $9$ .

The final subtraction shows that $20.2 - 10.4 = 9.8$ .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $\mathbf{9.8}$