Solve Vertical Subtraction: 88 minus 9 Step-by-Step

Vertical Subtraction with Regrouping

88  9776 \begin{aligned} &88 \\ -& \\ &~~9 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned}

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve
00:03 Each time consider a shortage of 2 digits, and then we'll place
00:06 8 is less than 9
00:09 Therefore we'll subtract 1 from the tens and add this amount to the ones
00:13 Meaning now instead of 8 we'll have 18
00:18 Subtract the ones from the ones plus the ten
00:21 Place in the ones
00:25 Place 0 in the missing digits
00:28 Subtract tens from tens, and place in tens
00:31 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

88  9776 \begin{aligned} &88 \\ -& \\ &~~9 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned}

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll perform vertical subtraction with regrouping:

  • Step 1: Write the numbers vertically:

8888
9-9

  • Step 2: Start with the units column (rightmost). We have 898 - 9.

  • Step 3: Since you can't subtract 9 from 8 directly without going negative, we regroup. Borrow 1 from the tens place of 88.

  • Step 4: Change the tens column: 8888 becomes 77 tens and the units column becomes 1818 (since you borrowed 10).

  • Step 5: Now subtract: 189=918 - 9 = 9.

  • Step 6: Move to the tens column (now 7): Subtract 0 from 7 (since no tens are in 9): 70=77 - 0 = 7.

Therefore, the result of the subtraction is 7979.

To conclude, the solution to the subtraction problem is 7979.

3

Final Answer

79

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Regrouping Rule: Borrow 10 from tens place when units digit is smaller
  • Technique: Change 88 to 7 tens and 18 units: 189=918 - 9 = 9
  • Check: Add your answer to the subtracted number: 79+9=8879 + 9 = 88

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Subtracting smaller digit from larger digit incorrectly
    Don't subtract 8 - 9 = 1 by flipping the order! This ignores place value and gives 81 instead of 79. Always borrow from the tens place first, making it 18 - 9 = 9.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( \begin{aligned} &105 \\ -& \\ &~~~~3 \\ &\underline{\phantom{776}} & \\ \end{aligned} \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just subtract 8 - 9 and get 1?

+

Because 8 is smaller than 9! In subtraction, you can't take away more than you have without going negative. That's why we borrow from the tens place to make it 18 - 9.

What does 'borrowing' actually mean?

+

Borrowing means taking 1 ten from the tens place and converting it to 10 ones in the units place. So 88 becomes 7 tens and 18 ones, giving us enough to subtract 9.

How do I know when I need to borrow?

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You need to borrow whenever the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit in any column. If you can't subtract without going negative, it's time to borrow!

What if both numbers have the same number of digits?

+

The process is the same! Line up the digits by place value and start from the rightmost column. Borrow when needed, just like in this problem with 88 - 9.

How can I check if my subtraction is correct?

+

Use addition to check! Add your answer to the number you subtracted. If you get the original number, you're right: 79+9=8879 + 9 = 88

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