1. Subtraction Of Whole Numbers Using An
Expanded Method
(the last step towards using a standard written
method for subtraction)
Part 1 of 5: Subtraction with no adjustment from the hundreds or tens
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2. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452

3. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8

4. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2

5. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:

6. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2

7. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
6
Start by subtracting the
units

8. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
40
6
Next the tens

9. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
Then the
hundreds
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300
40
6

10. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300 + 40 +
6
=
346
Finally, add the numbers
together to find the total

11. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300 + 40 +
6
=
346
When this can be performed confidently, it can be simplified to a standard written
method:

12. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300 + 40 +
6
=
346
When this can be performed confidently, it can be simplified to a standard written
method:
798
_
452

13. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300 + 40 +
6
=
346
When this can be performed confidently, it can be simplified to a standard written
method:
798
_
452
6
As above, start with
the units

14. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300 + 40 +
6
=
346
When this can be performed confidently, it can be simplified to a standard written
method:
798
_
452
46
Then the tens

15. The first stage of the expanded method is to partition the numbers. For example in the
calculation: 798 – 452
798 is partitioned as 700 + 90 + 8
And 452 is partitioned as 400 + 50 +2
The hundreds are then placed under the hundreds, the tens under the tens and the
units under the units:
700
_
90
8
400
50
2
300 + 40 +
6
=
346
When this can be performed confidently, it can be simplified to a standard written
method:
798
_
452
346
And finally the hundreds

16. That’s it for now......
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