2.1.1
Method A - Decomposition Method
Decomposition Method: 753 − 491
Decomposition Method: 753 − 491


Step 1
Step 1
- Write out the subtrahend under the minuend.
- Line up the digits so that the hundreds, tens and ones digits of each number are in the same columns.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Step 2
Step 2
- Start at the right. Subtract 1 from 3.
- Write the difference at the bottom, in the ones column.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Step 3
Step 3
- Now we want to ‘subtract 9 from 5'. Note that because we’re in the tens column now, we’re actually subtracting 90 from 50.
- To do this without using negatives, we exchange the 700 (i.e. we see 700 as 600 + 100). We do this by crossing out the 7 in the hundreds column and replacing it with a 6.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Step 4
Step 4
- Then we write a small 1 to the left of the 5 in the tens column, giving us 15 tens.
- What we’ve done is add one of our hundreds to the 50, meaning we can now to subtract 90 from 150.
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Step 5
Step 5
- Now, we subtract 9 from 15 which gives a difference of 6 for the tens column (i.e. 150 − 90= 60).
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Step 6
Step 6
- Finally, we subtract the digits in the hundreds column.
- We’ve used one of our hundreds already, so we have 6 left. We do 6 − 4 and write a 2 at the bottom. (This actually means 600 − 400 = 200.)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Breaking down the maths
Breaking down the maths
- What we effectively did here was rewrite 753 as 600 + 150 + 3.
1Course Overview
1.1Course Structure & Commonly Asked Questions
2Subtraction: KS2/3
2.1Subtraction Methods
2.1.1Method A - Decomposition Method
2.1.2Method B - Equal Addition Method
2.1.3Method C - Expanded Form Method
2.1.4Method D - Partitioning Method
2.1.5Method E - Counting-Up Method
2.1.6Method F - Constant Difference Method
2.1.7Method G - Partial Differences Method
2.1.8Method H - Complementary Method
2.1.9Method I - Nines Complement Method
3Expanding Double Brackets: KS3/4
Jump to other topics
1Course Overview
1.1Course Structure & Commonly Asked Questions
2Subtraction: KS2/3
2.1Subtraction Methods
2.1.1Method A - Decomposition Method
2.1.2Method B - Equal Addition Method
2.1.3Method C - Expanded Form Method
2.1.4Method D - Partitioning Method
2.1.5Method E - Counting-Up Method
2.1.6Method F - Constant Difference Method
2.1.7Method G - Partial Differences Method
2.1.8Method H - Complementary Method
2.1.9Method I - Nines Complement Method
3Expanding Double Brackets: KS3/4
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