Solve the Subtraction Problem: 186 minus 29 Using Column Method

$\begin{aligned} &186 \\ -& \\ &~~29 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned}$

To solve this problem of subtracting 29 from 186 using vertical subtraction, we will follow these steps:

• Step 1: Set up the subtraction problem by writing 186 above 29, aligning them based on place value (units, tens, hundreds).
• Step 2: Begin subtracting from the rightmost column (units).
• Step 3: If the top digit in a column is smaller than the bottom digit, regroup from the next left column.
• Step 4: Write the result beneath the line for each column.

Let's work through the subtraction problem:
186
- 29
--------

Step 1: Start with the units column: $6 - 9$. Because 6 is less than 9, we need to regroup.

Step 2: Look at the tens column. From the tens column represented as 8, we borrow 1 ten (equivalent to 10 units), converting 8 tens to 7, and adding 10 to the units column, making it 16.

Step 3: Now subtract in the units column: $16 - 9 = 7$.

Step 4: Move to the tens column. After borrowing, we have 7 tens minus 2 tens: $7 - 2 = 5$.

Step 5: Finally, subtract the hundreds column: $1 - 0 = 1$, as no borrowing was needed here.

Combine these results from each column to obtain the final answer: 157.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $157$, which matches choice 3 from the provided options.