Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers

INTRODUCTION TO WHOLE NUMBERS

Reading and Writing whole numbers

The decimal system of writing numbers uses the ten digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to

write any number. For example, these digits can be used to write the whole numbers:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and so on.

Each digit in a whole number has a place value. The following place value chart shows
the names of the different places used most often.
millionsTenmillionsMillion

HundredthousandsTentho
billionsTenbillionsBillions
trillionsTentrillionsTrillion

HundredsTensOnes
usandsThousands
Hundred

Hundred
Hundred

s
s

Example 1 Identifying Whole Numbers

(a) In the whole number 42, the 2 is in the ones place and has a value of two ones.

(b) in 29, the two is in the tens place and has a value of two tens.

(c) in 281, two is in the hundreds place and has a value of 2 hundreds.

The value of 2 in each number is different.

42
2 ones
29
2 tens
281
2 hundreds
ADDITION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

The process of finding the total of two or more numbers is called addition.

In addition, the numbers being added are called addends, and the resulting answer is
called sum or total.

4 addend
+2 addend
6 sum (answer)

To change the order of the numbers in an addition problem without changing the sum,
we use the commutative property of addition.

For example, the sum 3 + 8 is the same as the sum 8 + 3. This allows the addition of
the same number in a different order.

To add several numbers, first write them in a column. Add the first number to the
second. Add this sum the third digit, continue until all the digits are used.

Example 1. Adding More Than Two Numbers

Add 2, 5, 6, 1 and 4.

SOLUTION
Numbers being added

2 2+5=7

5
7+6=13
6

1 13+1=14
+ 4 14+4=18
18

If numbers have two or more digits, first arrange the numbers in columns so that the
ones digits are in the same column, tens are in the same column, hundreds are in the
same column, and so on. Next, add.

Example 2. Adding without Carrying

Add 410, 21, 106, and 52.
SOLUTION
First arrange the numbers in a column, with ones digits at the right.

hundreds in a column
tens in a column
ones in a column

4 1 0
2 1
1 0 6 ones digits at
+ 5 2 the right

Start at the right and add the ones digits. Add the tens digits next, and finally, the
hundreds digits.

4 1 0
2 1
1 0 6
+ 5 2

6 8 9

sum of ones
sum of tens
sum of hundreds

The sum of the four numbers is 689.

If the sum of the digits in a column is more than 9, use carrying.

Example 3. Adding with Carrying

Add 47 and 35.

SOLUTION
Add ones.

47
+ 35
sum of ones is 12.

Since 12 is 1 ten plus 2 ones, place 2 in the ones column and carry 1 to the tens
column.
 1
4 7
+ 3 5 7+5=12
2

Add in the tens column.

1
4 7
+ 3 5
8 2
sum of the digits in tens column

Example 4. Adding with Carrying

Add 691, 3461, 32, 4, 17.

SOLUTION
Step 1 Add the digits in the ones column

11
6 91 carry to the tens
34 6 1 column
32 sum of the ones column is 15.
4 write in the tens
+ 1 7 column
5

In 15, the 5 represents 5 ones and is written in the ones column, while 1 represents 1
tens and is carried to the tens column.

Step 2 Now add the digits in the tens column, including the carried 2.

2 1 Carry to the hundreds

6 9 1 column
346 1
3 2 sum of the tens column is 2 0.
4
+ 1 7 write in the
0 5 tens column
Step 3 1 2 1 carry to the
thousands 6 91 column
34 6 1
3 2 sum of the hundreds column is 1 2.
4
+ 1 7 write in the hundreds
2 0 5 column

Step 4 1 2 1
6 9 1
34 6 1
3 2 sum of the thousands column
4 is 4.
+ 1 7
4205 write in the thousands
column

Finally, 691 + 461 + 32 + 4 + 17 = 4205.

There are several words or phrases in English that indicate the operation of addition.
Here are some examples.

added to 3 added to 5 5+ 3
more than 7 more than 5 5+ 7
the sum of the sum of 3 and 9 3+ 9
increased by 4 increased by 6 4+ 6
the total of the total of 8 and 3 8+ 3
plus 5 plus 10 5 + 10

SUBTRACTION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

Subtraction is the process of finding the difference between two numbers.

Suppose you have $50, and you spend $20 for a hamburger. You have then $30 left.
There are two different ways of looking at these numbers:

As an addition problem:

$20 +$30 = $50

As a subtraction problem:

$50 – $20 = $30

As this example shows, an addition problem can be changed to a subtraction problem

and a subtraction problem can be changed to an addition problem.

In subtraction, as in addition, the numbers in a problem have names. In the example

above, 50 – 20 = 30, the number 50 is the minuend, 20 is the subtrahend, and 30 is
the difference or answer.

50 – 20 = 30

Minuend subtrahend difference

Subtract the two numbers by lining up the numbers, so the digits in the ones place are
in the same column. Next, subtract by columns, starting at the right with the ones
column.

Example 1. Subtracting Two Numbers

Ones digits are lined up in the same column.

(a) 53
- 21
3 2
3 –1=2
5–2=3

(b) 6982
- 380
6602
2–0=2
8–8=0
9–3=6
6–0=6
If a digit in the subtrahend is larger than the digit in a minuend, borrowing will be
necessary.

Example 2 Subtracting with Borrowing

(a) Subtract 18 from 63.

SOLUTION
63
- 18

In the ones column, 8 is larger than 3, so borrow a 10 from the 6 (which represents 6
tens or 60).

60–10=50 5 13 10+3=13
6 3
- 18

Now subtract 8 from 13, and then 1 from 5.

5 13
6 3
- 18
4 5difference

Finally, 63 – 18 = 45. Check by adding 18 and 45.

(b) Subtract 378 from 692.

SOLUTION
hundr

ndr
Hu

ones hu
nd

ones hu
nd
re

re
d

d
e
Ones
tens

tens
ed

ones
tens

tens

8+ 8+ 10 8 12 8 12
1 1
6 9 2 6 9 2 6 9 2 6 9 2
-378 -378 -378 -378
3 1 4

Because 8 Borrow Add the Subtract

> 2, one ten borrow the digits
borrowing from the ed 10 in each
is tens to 2 column
necessary column
. and write
9 tens = 8 ten in the
tens + 1 ones’
ten. column

The phrases below are used to indicate the operation of subtraction. An example is
shown at the right side of each phrase.

Use Basic Date Developed: Date Revised:

Code #GN1001A1 Page 14 of 122
Mathematical Concept May 2012 November 2013
minus 8 minus 5 8- 5
less 9 less 3 9- 3
less than 2 less than 7 7- 2
the difference between the difference between 8 and 2 8- 2
decrease by 5 decrease by 1 5– 1

Example 3. Find the difference between 5 6 2 and 1 9 4.

From the phrases that indicate subtraction, the difference between 562 and 194 can
also be written as 562 – 194.
5 12 4 15 12
5 62 56 2
- 1 94 - 19 4
8 3 6 8 difference

Example 3. Borrowing with Zeroes

Subtract.

2903
- 1586

SOLUTION
It is not possible to borrow from the tens position. Instead, first borrow from the
hundreds position.

900 – 100 =800 100 + 0 = 100

8 10
2903
-1586

Now we may borrow from the tens position.

9 100–10=90
8 10 13 10+3=13
2903
-1586

Complete the problem.

9
1 81013
2903
- 1586
1317 difference