How do you subtract large numbers?

Answer 1

How large is large??

5235 - 851

write them vertically so the understood decimal lines up

the 8 in 851 should be under the 2 in 5235 because they are both in the hundreds place.

5235

- 851

draw a line and subtract (borrowing if needed)

== 4384

or do you mean really big numbers in scientific notation

7.2 x 107 - 5.4 x 106

then you must either change to normal notation ( no exponent) or adjust the exponents to be the same.

4.4 x 106 = 0.44 x 107

now the problem becomes

7.2 x 107

- 0.44 x 107 ---- line up decimals and subtract as normal and bring down the exp.

= 6.76 x 107