Subtraction: Definition, Formula, Examples
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
Subtraction in mathematics is an operation that is used to find the difference between two numbers. This means the subtraction operation tells us how much a quantity is smaller than another quantity.
For example, Subtracting 8 from 11, the result is 3 i.e.,
11 - 8 = 3
We can also say that Subtraction is the inverse process of addition. By subtracting we find by how much a number is smaller than another number.
For Example, if the height of Ravi increase from 160 cm to 172 cm, then what is the increase in height? The height increase in height is calculated by subtracting two heights 172 - 160 = 12. Thus, we say that the height is increased by 12 cm.
Subtraction in Real Life
These are some of the real-life applications of subtraction:
- Measuring Distances: Subtracting the starting point from the end point gives the length of a space.
- Timekeeping: Subtracting the start time from the end time calculates duration.
- Inventory Management: Subtracting sold items from total stock helps track inventory levels.
- Budgeting: Subtracting expenses from income determines savings or remaining money.
- Temperature Change: Subtracting the initial temperature from the final one shows the temperature difference.
Symbol of Subtraction
Various symbols are used in mathematics for representing various operations. For subtraction operation in mathematics we use minus (-) symbol.
Symbol for SubtractionParts of Subtraction
There are various parts of subtraction that include,
- Minuend: The number from which another number is subtracted. Example: In 8 − 7, 8 is the minuend.
- Subtraction Symbol: The minus sign (-) used to represent subtraction. Example: In 8 − 7, the minus sign is the subtraction symbol.
- Subtrahend: The number that is subtracted from the minuend. Example: In 8−7, 7 is the subtrahend.
- Difference: The result of the subtraction operation. Example: In 8 − 7 = 1, the difference is 1.
Subtraction formula is the basic formula of mathematics that gives the difference of two or more numbers. The subtraction formula is,
Minuend - Subtrahend = Difference
Subtraction Table
Subtraction Table is a table that contains the difference of first ten natural numbers. The table added below show the subtraction table. The subtraction table is used to find the subtraction of two numbers quickly.
Methods for Subtraction
We have various methods for finding the sum of two numbers or solving addition. They are
- Using Fingers
- Using Number Lines
- By Regrouping Or Vertical Method
Let's learn the same in detail.
Subtraction on Fingers
Using fingers one can easily calculated the subtraction of two numbers. To find the difference of two number we first count first number in our fingers and then close the fingers equal to number that we have to subtract. The fingers remaining is the required result of the subtraction problem.
This explained by the image added below,
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Subtraction on the Number Line
Finding the result of subtraction operation is very easy using the number line. If we have to find the difference of two numbers using number lines then we should the following steps.
Let us suppose we have to find the difference of 7 and 3
Step 1: Mark 7 on a number line.
Step 2: Now to find the difference of 7 and 3 we count 3 numbers backwards (in left direction)
Step 3: Mark the final position(here 3). Thus, we get the difference of 7 and 3 to be 4.
These steps can be explained using the following illustration.
Also Read Addition and Subtraction on Number Line.
Subtraction By Regrouping
Subtracting by regrouping, or vertical subtraction, is used for subtracting two- or three-digit numbers arranged vertically.
In this method, numbers are written in Hundreds, Tens, and Ones format, and subtraction is performed column by column. If a digit in the upper number is smaller than the one below, a carry is borrowed from the next column to complete the subtraction.
For example, if we have to find the difference of 89 and 74 then the same is calculated as,
.png)
Also Read, Subtraction Tricks.
Properties of Subtraction
As we know that subtraction is one of the fundamental operation of the mathematics. There are various properties associated with it. Some of the important properties of the subtraction are,
Example: Subtract 3 from 5
Solution:
5 - 3 = 2
Also, this can be easily explained as suppose we are given 5 liters of water and 3 liters of water is take out from it them the result is 2 liters of water.
Examples of Subtraction
Subtraction is used to find the difference between two values. It is defined for all types of numbers in maths such as:
Subtraction Word Problems
Here are some solved word problems on Subtraction.
Problem 1: If a boy spends 230 rupees for movie ticket out of 500 rupees. How much money is left with him.
Solution:
Total money the boy has = 500 rupees
Money spent on movie ticket = 230 rupees
Money left with the boy = 500 - 230 = 270 rupees.
Problem 2: If Kabir has 100 pens and he distribute 55 pens in his class, then how much pens are left with him.
Solution:
Total pen Kabir has = 100 pens
Pens distributed by him in the class = 55 pens
Pens left with him = 100 - 55 = 45 pens
For more practicing read Subtraction Worksheet.
Subtraction Example Problems
Here are some solved problems on subtraction methods.
Example 1: Subtract 76 from 98
Solution:
98 - 76 = 24
Example 2: If a man buys 26 apples from the market and out of which 8 apples are rotten, how many good apple he has?
Solution:
Total Apple brought by the man = 25 Apples
Rotten Apples = 8 Apples
Good Apples = Total Apple - Rotten Apple = 25 - 8 = 17 Apples
Example 3: By how much is 1234 less than 2345?
Solution:
2345 - 1234 = 1111
Thus, 1234 is 1111 less than 2345.
Subtraction Practice Problems
We have given a few exercise problems on subtraction here for your practice.
P1: Calculate the following differences:
- 25 - 8 = ?
- 42 - 15 = ?
- 84 - 29 = ?
- 135 - 68 = ?
- 452 - 237 = ?
- 2768 - 1420 = ?
- 6352 - 4819 = ?
P2: Sarah had 15 candies, and she gave 6 candies to her friend Sophie. How many candies does she have now?
P3: A bookstore had 38 books on the shelf. If 12 books were sold and 3 were rented out, how many books are still on the shelf?
P4: A garden had 120 flowers. The gardener picked 56 flowers to make bouquets and sold 31 flowers to individuals. How many flowers are still in the garden?
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