Subtraction and Addition Basics

Introduction

Math is a fundamental subject that involves the study of numbers, symbols, and operations. It plays a significant role in our daily lives, from simple calculations like subtraction and addition to complex mathematical problems. In this article, we will focus on two basic arithmetic operations: subtraction and addition, which form the foundation of more advanced mathematical concepts.

Subtraction

Subtraction, also known as minus, is one of the four basic arithmetic operations. If you have ever asked yourself questions like "how much smaller is it?", "what remains when I take away something?" or "what's left after I remove something from another thing?", you were doing subtraction. To perform subtraction, follow these steps:

1. Identify the number representing what you want to find out about. This is called the minuend.
2. Determine how many units of the minuend you want to remove. This is called the subtrahend.
3. Count and record how many units of the minuend remain. These remaining units are called the difference:

Minuend - Subtrahend = Difference

For example, if you want to know how many units less there are in 25 compared to 10, you would write:

25 - 10 = 15

This means there are 15 fewer units in 25 compared to 10.

Addition

Addition is another fundamental arithmetic operation used to combine numerical values. Like subtraction, you might wonder things such as "how many combined do they make?", "what can I get by adding them together?" or "how much does everything cost after the price of A and B?" Every time you calculate such situations, you are performing addition. Here's how to add two numbers:

1. Set up the problem with the larger number on top and the smaller number below.
2. Draw a line through both numbers.
3. Add the digits in each column. If the sum is 10 or higher, carry over the ones place by writing down 10 and carrying over the tens place by crossing above the 10 written above.
4. Repeat step 3 until you reach the end of the columns.

Example: Let's say you need to add 27 + 35. We start by setting up the problem:

   27
+  35
__________

Then, we add the digits in each column:

    2
   + 5
   -----
    7

Next, we move to the tens column:

   27
+  35
__________
   62

Finally, we check the hundreds column:

   27
+  35
__________
   62

The answer is 62, meaning that 27 added to 35 equals 62.