I am looking for the easiest way to subtract large numbers from one another. Numbers such as: $$ 362354662,\;200519663,\;755393929,\;215879628,\;514121473,\;321038254,\;736846120 $$ Without the use of a calculator...
Thanks!
Na.
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6The digit-by-digit method which everyone learns in school is the easiest way (and the only way I can think of at the moment) – Peter Mar 26 '17 at 18:56
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1Adding the nines complement gives you a way to do it without borrowing if that's what you are looking for. – lulu Mar 26 '17 at 19:02
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The digit-by-digit method that I learned in school works well. Taking two of your example numbers $$\begin {align} 362354662&\\ \underline{-200519663}&\\ 161834999 \end {align}$$ Where you start from the ones column. You can't subtract $3$ from $2$, so borrow a $10$ from the tens and $12-3=9$ Then in the tens column we have $5-6$ so we have to borrow again. Keep going. With a little practice, this is very fast.
Ross Millikan
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