The place values in a 4-digit number, from right-to-left, are the ones place, tens place, hundreds place, and thousands place. The place values should always be aligned. Even if you are subtracting a 4-digit number from a 1-digit number. Since a 1-digit number only has ones, you will align this number with the digit in the ones place of the larger number.
For example, if you are calculating 5,914−2,346{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346}, you will subtract 4−6{\displaystyle 4-6} in the ones place. Since 6 is larger than 4, you must borrow from the tens place. The 1 in the tens place becomes a 0, and the 4 in the ones place becomes 14. So now you will calculate 14−6=8{\displaystyle 14-6=8}. So the digit in the ones place of your answer is 8.
For example, if you are calculating 5,914−2,346{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346}, you will subtract 0−4{\displaystyle 0-4} in the tens place, since you borrowed a ten when subtracting ones. Since 4 is larger than 0, you must borrow from the hundreds place. The 9 in the hundreds place becomes an 8 , and the 0 in the tens place becomes 10. So now you will calculate 10−4=6{\displaystyle 10-4=6}. So the digit in the tens place of your answer is 6.
For example, if you are calculating 5,914−2,346{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346}, you will subtract 8−3{\displaystyle 8-3} in the hundreds place, since you borrowed a hundred when subtracting tens. 8−3=5{\displaystyle 8-3=5}. So the digit in the hundreds place of your answer is 5.
For example, if you are calculating 5,914−2,346{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346}, you will subtract 5−2{\displaystyle 5-2} in the thousands place. 5−2=3{\displaystyle 5-2=3}. So, 5,914−2,346=3,568{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346=3,568}.
For example, if you are subtracting 2,346−5,914{\displaystyle 2,346-5,914}, you should note that 5,914 is larger. Since you are subtracting a larger number from a smaller number, your answer will be negative.
For example, if you are subtracting 2,346−5,914{\displaystyle 2,346-5,914}, even though you are supposed to take away 5,914, you will set up the problem with 5,914 on top.
For example, after borrowing to subtract the digits in each place value, you should calculate 5,914−2,346=3,568{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346=3,568}.
For example, if 5,914−2,346=3,568{\displaystyle 5,914-2,346=3,568}, then 2,346−5,914=−3,568{\displaystyle 2,346-5,914=-3,568}.
For example, if you are subtracting 4,750−136. 2{\displaystyle 4,750-136. 2}, you would place a decimal after the 0 in 4,750, and set up the problem with 4,750. 0 on top of 0136. 2.
For example, after borrowing to subtract the digits in each place value, you should calculate 4,750. 0−0136. 2=46138{\displaystyle 4,750. 0-0136. 2=46138}.
For example, if you calculate 4,750. 0−0136. 2=46138{\displaystyle 4,750. 0-0136. 2=46138}, you need to drop your decimal point in your answer so that it aligns with the other decimal points. So the answer is 4613. 8.
