Subtraction of numbers made easy!

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to subtract a number without the messy borrowing and regrouping of values?  We all know that traditional methods of subtraction can be complicated, and therefore lead to possible mistakes.

Here is a quick glimpse of the traditional method of subtraction.  Notice that you must borrow a 1 from 70, making the 0 a 10, which then allows you to subtract 6 from 10, resulting in a 4.  The next step requires no regrouping, and most of us know fairly quickly that 69-53=16.  We conclude that 700-536=164, which is correct.

69 1

 70^0

-53 6

 164

Let's try this again, but using a simple trick.  Reduce both numbers by 1 before applying the operation of subtraction.  

 699

-535

 164

Notice that no borrowing nor regrouping of numbers was required to perform the operation, yet we have the same answer!  By reducing both numbers by 1, we didn't change the relationship between those numbers, and our answer is the same.  

Time for one more?

 303

-169

   ?

To solve this problem with great ease, reduce both numbers by 4.

 299

-165

 134

Try this trick, and share it with others!