15.2 − 7.85

0:00How do we take 7.85 away from 15.2? Let us find out.

0:06First, line up the decimal points, one above the other.

0:1315.2 has no hundredths, so write a 0 there. The value stays the same.

0:20Now subtract each column, starting from the right.

0:240 is smaller than 5, so we need to borrow.

0:28Borrow 1 from the tenths, so 2 becomes 1. 1 tenth is 10 hundredths, so the 0 becomes 10.

0:3710 take away 5 is 5.

0:421 is smaller than 8, so borrow 1 from the ones. 5 becomes 4, and the 1 becomes 11.

0:5011 take away 8 is 3.

0:54Bring the decimal point straight down.

0:57Now subtract the whole numbers the same way.

1:004 is smaller than 7, so borrow 1 from the tens. 1 becomes 0, and the 4 becomes 14.

1:0814 take away 7 is 7.

1:12The tens have 0 left. We do not write a 0 at the front.

1:17So 15.2 minus 7.85 equals 7.35.