The operation to perform:
52 - 37
Method used below: column subtracting, from right to left (traditional)
Stack the numbers on top of each other.
The ones digits line up in the first column from the right.
The tens digits line up in the next column to the left.
Subtract column by column; start from the column on the right
Subtract the digits in the ones column:
2 - 7 = ?
The second digit is larger than the first.
Borrow from the next column to the left.
The borrowing is a two step process:
Subtract 1 from the top digit in the column of the tens: 5 - 1 = 4.
Cross out the top digit you've borrowed 1 from: 5.
Write the answer above that digit: 4.
When borrowing, 1 ten = 10 ones.
Add 10 to the top digit in the column of the ones: 10 + 2 = 12.
After borrowing the subtraction has become:
it2brw: 12 - 7 = 5.
5 is the ones digit.
Write it down at the base of the ones column.