Definition
Borrowing is the process of taking value from the next higher place-value column during subtraction when the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit.
Examples
- In 42 - 17, you borrow 1 ten to make the ones column 12 - 7 = 5.
- In 300 - 156, you borrow from the hundreds to subtract.
- 51 - 28: borrow 1 ten, making it 11 - 8 = 3 in the ones.