The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer to the subtraction problem is 26,955.
To solve the equation 72,081 minus 45,126, we use the standard method of subtraction, working column by column from right to left. This process often involves “borrowing” or “regrouping” from the digit to the left when the top digit in a column is smaller than the bottom digit.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown:
- Ones Column: We start with 1 minus 6. Since 1 is smaller than 6, we need to borrow from the next column, the tens place. We take 1 from the 8 in the tens place, which leaves it as a 7. The borrowed 1 is equivalent to 10 ones, so we add it to our original 1, making it 11. Now we can subtract: 11 minus 6 equals 5.
- Tens Column: Moving to the tens column, we now have 7 (not the original 8) minus 2. This is a simple calculation: 7 minus 2 equals 5.
- Hundreds Column: In this column, we have 0 minus 1. Again, the top number is smaller, so we must borrow from the thousands column to the left. We take 1 from the 2 in the thousands place, leaving it as a 1. This adds 10 to our hundreds place, turning the 0 into 10. Now, we calculate: 10 minus 1 equals 9.
- Thousands Column: Here, we have 1 (after lending to the hundreds) minus 5. We must borrow again, this time from the ten thousands place. We take 1 from the 7, which leaves a 6. This adds 10 to our thousands place, turning the 1 into 11. The calculation is now: 11 minus 5 equals 6.
- Ten Thousands Column: Finally, for the leftmost column, we have 6 (after lending to the thousands place) minus 4. This gives us 2.
By assembling the results from each column, from left to right, we get the final answer: 26,955
