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Breaking Down 357 - 251

Understanding subtraction by breaking down each place value helps to grasp the process clearly. Let’s explore this with an example: subtracting 251 from 357.

Place Value Analysis

• Hundreds Place:The number 357 consists of 3 hundreds.
  Subtracting 2 hundreds from 3 hundreds leaves us with 1 hundred.
  

• Tens Place:357 has 5 tens.
  Subtracting 5 tens from 5 tens results in 0 tens.
  

• Ones Place:The number 357 contains 7 ones.
  Subtracting 1 one from 7 ones leaves us with 6 ones.
  

By combining these results, we get:

• 1 hundred,

• 0 tens,

• 6 ones.

Thus, 357 - 251 = 106.

Detailed Step-by-Step Process

1. Start with the Ones Place:You have 7 ones and subtract 1 one.
   7−1=67 - 1 = 67−1=6
   

2. Move to the Tens Place:You have 5 tens and subtract 5 tens.
   5−5=05 - 5 = 05−5=0
   

3. Finally, the Hundreds Place:You have 3 hundreds and subtract 2 hundreds.
   3−2=13 - 2 = 13−2=1
   

Practice Example:

Let's take another example to practice.

Example: 482 - 261

1. Ones Place:2−1=12 - 1 = 12−1=1
   

2. Tens Place:8−6=28 - 6 = 28−6=2
   

3. Hundreds Place:4−2=24 - 2 = 24−2=2
   

So, 482 - 261 = 221.

By consistently practicing these steps, you’ll gain confidence and accuracy in subtracting three-digit numbers without needing to regroup.